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Corinth United Methodist Church REFLECTIONS AND MUSINGS FROM PASTOR JIM: MINISTRY IN HAITI … Our Missions Committee has been prayerfully considering our church’s next mission thrust. Through discussions with Steve Page of Ebenezer Outreach, we have heard the call to establish a sister church connection with the brothers and sisters of the church in Anse a Foleur (pronounced AHNS-AH-FUH-LOOR), a town in northern Haiti. We expect to send a small team of members there a year from now (January 2013) to establish the relationship and explore ways we can assist in the work of the Lord. Over the next year there will be fund-raising work and educational work to be done in preparation for this ministry. This is a major work, and we hope to be about this partnership for the next several years. We will need all hands on deck as a church to fulfill the purpose of this calling. Please be considering what part you have to play in this great venture. Here are some aspects of this ministry to pray over: - prayer for Anse a Foleur and for the work we will do there; - go to Haiti; - donate; - help with fund-raising projects; - personal support for the people who go; - administrative tasks coordinating the work - donations of materials for travelers or for work in Haiti as we learn more of specific needs there. As this ministry unfolds other and more specific opportunities will arise. Please join together in supporting the work of the Lord in building the Kingdom of God in and with the church of Anse a Foleur, Haiti. … AND MINISTRY IN ETHIOPIA from Pastor Jim In June of this year, I will return to Ethiopia to teach at Evangelical Theological College (ETC) in that nation’s capital, Addis Ababa. I taught there in the summer of 2006 and found it to be a powerful experience for the students and for me. For three weeks I will be teaching a course called "Servant Leadership" for students who will be pastors, missionaries and Christian educators. The students of ETC come with a passion for the Lord and a dedication to doing His work that is absolutely inspiring. While I hope to impart something that will be useful to them in their ministries, it is inevitable that I will receive a much greater blessing than they. I am very grateful for the encouragement of the Staff-Pastoral Relations Committee for this mission. When I arrived here in Corinth in 2010, I had expressed interest in participating in this teaching mission again. When it appeared that the time was right to go forward, the SPRC members and others in the church affirmed the church’s support and are preparing to enlist those who will lead worship and ministry here in Corinth for the four weeks I am away (approximate dates are June 6 to July 4). A SPECIAL NOTE ABOUT FUNDING: ABOUT EVANGELICAL THEOLOGICAL COLLEGE: ETC is an independent, Ethiopian-run school serving the Protestant churches of Ethiopia. ETC students are all high school graduates, and all have been involved in some type of ministry (pastoral, Christian education, missions) for at least four years. In addition to their regular Fall and Spring semesters taught by their full-time faculty, they offer a number of brief, intensive, full-credit courses each summer, which is their rainy season. Rainy Season instructors come from all over the world and teach a wide variety of courses. They are not paid by ETC nor are their travel or living expenses covered. ASH WEDNESDAY SERVICE Because summer teaching at ETC is done on a volunteer basis, I will be seeking financial assistance to cover room and board and travel costs. However, this mission is a not a project of the church as a whole. While people of Corinth UMC have been very encouraging, the church "as a church" is not and will not be asked to help fund the work. If there are any individuals who wish to be part of assisting with the mission financially, please speak with me about that directly. The season of Lent provides a time of reflection that prepares us for the great celebrations of the Crucifixion and Resurrection of our Lord during Holy Week. Lent begins with the Ash Wednesday service on February 22 at 7PM. The service includes a time to ponder the sacrifice Jesus made for us, and to consider how we might lay our lives down for Him. Imposition of the Ashes will be available for all who desire it. Please join us for this special time of contemplation and dedication. Pack well | During Lent, as we focus on Christ’s journey to the cross, let’s also examine the journey of our lives. The first task when leaving on any adventure is packing. What have you placed in your bag? Are you weighed down with temptations, self-doubt, money worries, relationship troubles? Have you overlooked any important items? Maybe your bag feels too empty for the challenges ahead. Remember to pack mercy, grace and forgiveness. Thanks to Easter, we know that our journey in Christ continues, even when the road becomes difficult. So as you prepare for Lent, carry with you the hope made possible by Jesus’ sacrifice on our behalf. |
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We Want You to Know February, 2012 . . .that we need YOU to submit articles and news items for the Newsletter each month. Consider if you have an event or report of ministry that you want the church to know about. The deadline for the March Newsletter is February 22nd. . . . that the next Tres Dias Weekend is in February 9-12. This three-day spiritual weekend is a gift from God for you to unwrap because God loves you and works in your life, the church, and the world. Please speak to John and Charlene French, or others in the church that have attended the weekend. They will gladly sponsor you. Vida Nueva is the Youth (Ages 15-20) Weekend (Fri.-Sun.). Speak to Lisa or Brian Thompson for more information. . . .that we are recycling our Upper Rooms, Daily Breads and small devotional books by sending them to New Jersey where a group of laywomen have a ministry in a Women's Prison. The Missions committee continues to sponsor this activity. . . .that the Missions Committee is joining with the Ebeneezer Project to become involved in some way with their Haiti Mission. The Missions Committee are planning a mission trip to Haiti for some interested folks by January 2013. This will be a scouting mission to assess needs and other ways we can help as a church. . . .that the men of the church are hosting a brunch for the ladies of the church and their guests to celebrate Valentine's Day on February 11th. . . .that the Educational Mission Team will also join the men to sponsor a square dance on February 11th from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm. The place to be announced later. . . .that Susan Darling and Laurie Duncan are organizing a Cabin Fever Variety Show scheduled for March 31, 2012. All proceeds will be going toward the Mission Trip to Haiti in 2013. More information will be forthcoming soon! ... . .that the Senior High Sunday School participated in Gifts for Compassion this past December and chose to purchase a Water for Life System and a Bible. Thank you Senior High. YOU ROCK! . . .that Greg and Kathy Dubois have moved to Cadillac Michigan to pastor the First Covenent Church of Cadillac. Their new address is 307 No. Park St., Cadillac, MI 49601. . . .that February 22nd at 7:00 P.M. will be our Ash Wednesday service which signifies the beginning of Lent.
Camp Scholarship Request Form Name:_____________________ Age:______ Date:____________ I would like to receive a one time $______ scholarship for the following Camp: ______________________________________ ________________________ Date(s) attending:__________________ (name of session) I currently attend SS:_______ Youth Group______ Church_______ Other_______ at ____________________________________________ (Church name, address & phone number) (All requests must be turned in no later than 2 weeks prior to the dates attending camp. It is preferred that in the future all requests be submitted by June 1st of each year. We will submit a check made payable to the camp with your specific information and you will receive acknowledgment when this has been completed.) request approved: ___________________________ Pastor
Notes from Outreach and Nurture We had our first Potluck Luncheon and shared good food and time together. We had about 50 folks attend. Thanks to those who helped set up and clean up after. Don't forget our February Pot Luck Sunday on the 19th after Worship. Come - enjoy our togetherness. We had some prayer requests this month to share. Thank you to each of you on the prayer tree. Plenty of room for more pray-ers. Let me know if you'd like to become involved in this ministry. Doris Smith joined our team this year and has volunteered to keep more intentionally in touch with our shut-ins. She's doing a good job. These folks enjoy hearing from someone on a regular basis. Thanks, Doris. We had to say good-bye to Greg, Kathy and Caleb Dubois this month. Greg was called to pastor a church in Cadillac, Michigan. We have enjoyed having them worship with us and share their beautiful voices. We send our prayers and good wishes with them. Keep in touch. Nancy Bond, Chairperson
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