News and events from across the conference

  Saint Mark UMC: Sessions address addiction

     Pipe Organ and Double Brass Quintet concert 3 p.m. Feb. 13 at the church, 770 Canton Hwy. 770-887-2900. www.cfumcga.com.

 

     The Cotton Patch Gospel will be performed at 5 p.m. Feb. 27 at Roswell United Methodist, as part of the Sounds of the Spirit Concert Series. Tickets $10 in advance, $15 at the door. Available at www.itickets.com or at the church, 814 Mimosa Blvd. 770-594-0512. www.rumc.com.

      “Cotton Patch” Gospel is a colloquial translation of most of the New Testament by Baptist minister Clarence Jordan, whose goal was to communicate the New Testament in the idiom of the South so that “plain folks” could better understand it. To do this, Jordan, who worked from Greek texts, changed both the setting and the language of the New Testament.

     The script for the musical adaptation, written by Atlanta-based actor Tom Key and stage director Russell Treyz with music and lyrics by Harry Chapin, was based on Jordan’s version of the Gospels of Matthew and John. The musical delves even further into the southern vernacular than Jordan’s original. For example, Jesus’ mother, Mary, becomes Mary Hagle, daughter of a deacon at First Baptist Church of Clayton. Mary gives birth to Jesus in an abandoned trailer behind Dixie DeLite Motor Lodge as she and Joseph travel to Atlanta for an income-tax audit. The production’s country songs move the characters through the stages of Jesus’ earthly ministry, most of which occurs in Georgia. Like Jordan’s original, the musical is intended to offer people a fresh perspective on Jesus’ life and provide a modern twist on the Gospel message.

     The Lilburn church is hosting a blood drive 3-7 p.m. February 14 in Pollard Hall. The church’s address is 50 Harmony Grove Road. 770-921-7747. www.harmonygroveumc.com.

 

     Sweet is the E. Stanley Jones Professor of Evangelism at Drew Theological School, in Madison, New Jersey; and a Visiting Distinguished Professor at George Fox University in Portland, Oregon. In 2007, he was voted One of the 50 Most Influential Christian Leaders in America (#8). In 2006, he received the same honor (#32).

      Before becoming the E. Stanley Jones Professor of Evangelism, Sweet had been Vice President of Academic Affairs and Dean of the Theological School at Drew from 1995 to 2000. Prior to his appointments at Drew University, he served as President and Professor of Church History at United Theological Seminary, Dayton, Ohio. His first academic administration position was as Provost and Associate Professor of Church History at Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School.

Athens FUMC: Bestselling author to speak 
     Bruce Feiler (“Walking the Bible,” “Abraham,” “Where God Was Born”) will be at the Athens church at 4:30 p.m. March 27, 2011, to bring a message of hope amidst cancer survival, and the value of family. Online tickets will be available at www.athensfirstumc.org in January. Seating will be limited, general admission. Feiler will sign books after he speaks. The church is at 327 North Lumpkin Street.

 

     The Concert Series at Dunwoody United Methodist Church presents Coro Vocati at 4 p.m. Feb. 20, a “called” group of professional singers in a choral program of contemporary composers from North and South America that concludes with folk songs.  Suggested donation, $10. 1548 Mt. Vernon Road. 770-394-0675. www.dunwoodyumc.org.  

       Participate in informative workshops, visit a sustainable community, worship and share green ideas with others at the 2011 Caring for Creation experience March 31-April 3, 2011, at the Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center.

       Incentives are available for early registration before January 1, 2011. Ethnic scholarships are available online soon. For registration, workshops, and more information visit www.lakejunaluska.com/caring-for-creation or call 828-454-6656.

      Harvest of Hope, a program offered by End Hunger, is offering a hunger relief mission opportunity March 6-12 in Orlando. Cost is $150, not including travel. During this year’s spring break, the college students participating saved and distributed 18,000 pounds of fresh produce, and boxed and shipped 34,000 pounds of canned goods. For more information, call 800-333-4597, e-mail sosahoh@endhunger.org or visit www.endhunger.org.

     The Society of St. Andrew, a domestic hunger-relief ministry, is offering spiritual nourishment a Lent devotion called “We’ve a Story to Tell.” The daily devotions are written by writers from different denominations who share how their personal walk with Jesus has impacted their lives.

     The Society of St. Andrew is a national nonprofit program that rescues about 25 million pounds of excess produce each year that would otherwise go to waste. The salvaged food is distributed to critical feeding agencies across the country at no cost to the agencies or people served. For more information, visit www.endhunger.org.

 

Ministers and church members of all denominations are invited to “Rx for a Healthy Church,” on Feb. 22, a continuing education seminar that explores how to transform churches into vibrant and healthy centers of faith. The seminar is being hosted by the Reinhardt University Ministerial Association on Reinhardt’s Waleska, Ga., campus. 

Jim Jernigan, Reinhardt’s coordinator of ministerial relations, is enthusiastic about the event. “Every year we look for a current topic that will help pastors. The seminar leaders -- Dr. Ron Flowers, Rev. Jim Hollis and Rev. Jim Burt -- will bring more than 100 years of effective ministry experience to this event. All have pastored growing churches and have a clear understanding of what it takes for a congregation to get healthy and grow significantly.”

Hollis is the founder and executive director of Proactive Ministries, a not-for-profit ministry organization that has led training with more than 900 congregations across 40 states and 42 Annual Conferences in America. He sees a critical need for this type of teaching. 

“Many of our pastors and congregations are frustrated over an absence of serious growth, both spiritually and numerically,” said Hollis. “Too often churches are not healthy and whole or prepared to grow. I’ve found that there are ministries, specifically prayer, worship, nominations and leader development, relational initiation of new friendships and strengthening stewardship, which should be major priorities, but in reality they end up as minimal priorities. We’ll address these five areas as baseline ministry priorities for church health and growth for all congregations.”

During the morning session, participants will review the five key ministries and how they fit together in a healthy church. After lunch, from 1 to 3 p.m., attendees will choose three ministries to explore in-depth. From 3:30 to 5:30 p.m., an optional bonus – a 30-minute individual consultation session with a seminar leader - is being offered free of charge for pastors. The slots will be filled on a first-come, first-serve basis as advanced reservations are received.

 The event will be held in the Falany Performing Arts Center from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.www.reinhardt.edu/church_relations or by phone at 770-720-5546. Box lunches and beverages are included in the $35 per person registration fee. Participants are encouraged to sign up by Feb. 18, but walk-in registrants are welcome. Register online at

 

World Methodist Council; Dr. Reginald W. Ponder,former Executive Director

SEJ Council and LJA: Dr. Evelyn Laycock, Bible teacher, and Rev. Jan Brittian, pastor of Christ UMC in Greensboro, N.C.  

     Activities are planned for children, young adults and families. To register for the event, visit www.lakejunaluska.org. For details, contact Pam Naplen at 828-454-6656 or pnaplen@lakejunaluska.org.

 

    It is time to update the Mission Opportunities Map at ngumc.org. If you are sending out short term mission teams locally or internationally, please go to www.ngumc.org/pages/ detail/941 and submit your short term mission trip.