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2018 Advent Resources Advent/Christmas We hope the resources will help jumpstart your planning and give you new ideas for this season. _________________________________________ N  U  R  T  U  R  E Take the Online Advent Quiz: (Download), print and share the Advent Quiz with your church, family & friends!  Chuck Knows Church: The Advent Wreath (Video 3 minutes) New Ways to Celebrate Advent With Kids Christmas Gifts That Won't Break: A Children's Advent Study by James W. Moore. Coloring Through ...

It’s hard to believe the holidays are right around the corner. That means it’s time once again for UMC #GivingTuesday. In 2017, millions of people from 150 countries raised over $300,000,000 on Giving Tuesday. This year on November 27 United Methodists will once again come together as a part of that movement to advance vital ministries around the world. There are hundreds of ways you can #GiveUMC. | Resources are also available to help you promote Giving Tuesday. To make a big day even BIGGER, ...

The Advance Edition of the Daily Christian Advocate (ADCA), the official journal of the General Conference of The United Methodist Church, is set to be available in a bound and printed format by November 26, with a PDF of the 2019 ADCA accessible online now. The Book of Discipline requires that the ADCA be available to delegates at least 90 days before the opening day of General Conference. For the 2019 Special Session, which officially opens February 24th in St. Louis, that date is November 26....

FROM THE BISHOP R. LAWSON BRYAN Last Sunday I had the opportunity to preach at Lovely Lane Chapel on the grounds of Epworth By The Sea. What an beautiful, worshipful setting. The sermon was based on the Old Testament lectionary passage, Ruth 1:1-18. After the death of her husband and two sons, Naomi feels that God certainly has abandoned her. Yet, God is as close to her as her daughter-in-law, Ruth. In the midst of tragedy and death, Ruth, the Moabite, says to Naomi, the Hebrew, “Where you go, ...

In the month since Hurricane Michael ripped through Southwest Georgia as a category 3 hurricane, the South Georgia Conference has experienced so many ways in which we are Alive Together in the World. Allison Lindsey, associate Director of Connectional Ministries, and Luis Morales, Disaster Response Coordinator, have been coordinating response efforts across South Georgia. “I am thankful for Allison and Luis, for their tireless service, and for their dedication to our annual conference and our ...

JOHN WESLEY MOMENTS DAVE HANSON Jay Jordan from St Marys, Georgia recently gave me a rare copy of the February 1751 Gentlemen’s Magazine from London, England. Buried in the small print on an inside page of this magazine was a small notice which indicated that John Wesley, Methodist preacher, had married a merchant’s widow. It did not mention the bride’s name, but did say that a certain amount was given as her dowry. The important magazine has been donated to the Arthur J. Moore Methodist ...

By Kara Witherow, Editor Charlotte Petty loves to sew. The Magnolia Manor of St. Simons Island resident has been sewing and creating “all her life” and finds joy and fulfilment in crafting handmade items and helping others. She sees value in everything, never throwing away a scrap of yarn or piece of fabric. “My motto is ‘Waste not, want not,’ so if I see a use for something, I do it,” she said. Another of her guiding principles is “See a need, meet a need.” While perhaps unspoken, that ...

By Kara Witherow, Editor A hundred or so United Methodist Women gathered in Trinity United Methodist Church’s sanctuary Oct. 20 to join with their sisters and hear an encouraging word about being women of service, faith, and persistence. “We are treading on holy ground,” South Georgia United Methodist Women president Carol Banks, who had just recently returned from a UMW Unbuntu Journey to Peru, said to the women gathered in Warner Robins. Meeting under the theme, “Sacred Spaces of Service,” ...

By Kara Witherow, Editor On Sunday, Nov. 11, Grace United Methodist Church in Brunswick will celebrate its sesquicentennial with the theme, “Rooted in the past with a vision for our future.” They will celebrate with an anniversary banquet Friday, Nov. 9 and with a church anniversary worship hour Sunday, Nov. 11, with retired Coastal District Superintendent Dr. Wayne Moseley preaching. The church, which began Nov. 18, 1868, also has much to celebrate as they conclude their two-year involvement...

By Kara Witherow, Editor Emma Chloe Arnold has had her sights set on college since middle school. The 16-year-old, a junior at Seminole County High School in Donalsonville, toured more than a dozen college campuses last February as part of Campus Crawl, a bus tour designed to introduce ninth through twelfth grade students to Georgia’s United Methodist campus ministries, colleges, and, universities. Sponsored and organized by the Georgia UMCommission on Higher Education and Collegiate ...

In the wake of a deadly mass shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue on Saturday, Bishop Lawson Bryan joins with Bishop Cynthia Moore-Koikoi as she calls on all United Methodists to be in silent, reflective prayer for 17 minutes for the next seven days for the Pittsburgh Jewish communities. (Read her message here.)   A Word from Bishop Bryan As thousands of South Georgia Methodists attend worship today, we lift our hearts to God in grief over the attack on Jews at a Pittsburgh synagogue yesterday....

During each of our Way Forward district meetings we noted that the Judicial Council had been asked to rule on the constitutionality of each of the three plans submitted by the Commission on a Way Forward. The Judicial Council met this week, and they have just released their declaratory decision. In their findings, the Judicial Council pointed out the constitutional problems with both the One Church Plan and the Traditional Plan. Because the Connectional Conference plan already contains proposed ...

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Our church members and our pastors in the areas most affected by Hurricane Michael are hard at work checking on those in their churches and communities. Rev. Tammy Fincannon is a good example of what I am seeing: faithful pastors tending to the needs of their church and communities. Tammy serves as pastor of Reynolds Chapel UMC which is located at Lake Seminole in the area where Hurricane Michael first entered South Georgia. The wooded area around the lake ...

By Kara Witherow, Editor Sunday, Aug. 26 was a day of celebration for Arca de Fuego, the Hispanic congregation of Americus First United Methodist Church, as they opened the doors of their new facility. About 270 members of the Hispanic congregation gathered in the downtown Americus location and sang songs, worshiped, and thanked God for their new home. While the congregation is 15 years old, Sunday, Aug. 26 was their first service in the Clarence Jorden Center on Habitat for Humanity’s campus...

By Kara Witherow, Editor More than 30 people gathered at The Chapel in Brunswick Thursday, Oct. 11 as the South Georgia Conference’s General Conference delegation hosted its first of three listening post sessions. An opportunity for South Georgia clergy and laity to share their thoughts and take part in the Way Forward conversation, the listening post was hosted by Rev. Jay Hanson, a member of the delegation and lead pastor of The Chapel Ministries in Brunswick. Rev. Hanson did not make a ...

OUR CONNECTION MATTERS NITA CRUMP And now the word of the Lord is ringing out from you to people everywhere … for wherever we go we find people telling us about your faith in God. We don’t need to tell them about it, for they keep talking about the wonderful welcome you gave us … 1 Thessalonians 1:8-9 (NLT) Do you ever get excited about something? Did you watch a college football game last Saturday?  I know, I know. When I scream at the television, no one on the field can hear me. But I get ...

PATHWAY TO HIS PRESENCE B.J. FUNK Hearing corn grow? For real? I thought it was a myth or some old wives’ tale. So, I went to a video on the Internet and actually heard the corn growing. Like soft lightning or better yet, like a continuous crackle. Fascinating! So what does it sound like? Interestingly enough, it sounds remarkably similar to the sounds made when corn breaks. It seems that plant growth involves millions of tiny breakage events.  These breakage events trigger the plant to rush ...

CLICK HERE TO VIEW ALL DISASTER RESPONSE RELATED NEWS By Kara Witherow, Editor The Southwest District bore the brunt of Hurricane Michael’s wrath in Georgia as the storm slammed into the area last Wednesday afternoon and evening as a Category 3 hurricane. Michael brought 115 mph winds and downed trees and power lines throughout the region. Homes, churches, and businesses were damaged and destroyed. Cotton, peanut, and pecan crops, which were not yet fully harvested, were decimated. But ...

Many residents of Southwest Georgia are reeling today, their homes and communities damaged and devastated by Hurricane Michael. Hurricane Michael, which hit the area yesterday afternoon and evening after slamming into the Florida Panhandle, ravaged much of the area for hours. The wind was intense, uprooting trees, destroying buildings, and decimating crops. Hundreds of thousands are without power, and several counties are in a utility crisis, without power or water. The Conference Disaster ...

Dear South Georgia Conference, While we watch closely the track of Hurricane Michael, I want to assure our annual conference that our South Georgia Disaster Response Team is already standing by and ready to respond.  Over the past two years our area has experienced hurricanes, tornadoes, straight-line winds, and flooding. Our members have risen to the occasion by providing disaster funds and Early Response teams to other areas of the country and to those at home in South Georgia. Thanks to the ...

FROM THE BISHOP R. LAWSON BRYAN Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, We truly are Alive Together in the World! I write that as I sit here in Zimbabwe, in southern Africa, having traveled here as a member of the General Commission on Religion and Race (GCORR). In addition to serving the conference to which we are assigned, bishops also have responsibilities for service in the larger church. Because it is a privilege to represent the South Georgia Conference and the Southeastern Jurisdiction, I...

We are busy preparing for the 2019 Annual Conference Session, which will be held at The Columbus Georgia Convention & Trade Center set for June 2-5, 2019. Last year, Bishop Bryan led us in celebrating all the ways we are “Alive Together in Worship.” We also prepared for a year-long emphasis on being “Alive Together in the World” and will continue that celebration at the 2019 Annual Conference Session. I pray that you are finding many ways to reach out to the world in word and deed as you share ...

By Kara Witherow, Editor Misty Hayes is a fiercely independent woman, a busy volunteer who spends time serving at Colquitt United Methodist Church’s food bank, helping with the church’s children and youth ministries, and participating in Colquitt’s Swamp Gravy folk-life play. Nothing stops Hayes, says Colquitt UMC pastor Rev Scott Stanfill, except the church’s door. Hayes, who uses a wheelchair, was born with a progressive muscle disease that is a type of muscular dystrophy. The church’s door...

LEADERSHIP REALLY MATTERS ANNE BOSARGE REV. JAY HANSON We’ve been a bit intrigued by questions lately. I guess you could say we’re kind of question nerds. We began talking about the power of Jesus’ questions in our last article, “What is Jesus asking you?” As we reflect on the power of Jesus’ questions in our lives, we’re prompted to ask ourselves, “If I could ask anything, what would it be?”  I recently read that the best question-askers are actually 4-year old girls. They ask an average of ...

By Kara Witherow, Editor Last month, nine South Georgia United Methodists traveled to Baldwin, La. to work in the United Methodist Committee on Relief’s (UMCOR) Sager Brown supply depot. There they got an up-close look at how the agency responds before and after disasters. The trip, sponsored by the Conference Outreach team, was organized by Allison Lindsey, associate director of Connectional Ministries and led by Susan Hughes, a member of Central United Methodist Church in Fitzgerald. Hughes ...

By Kara Witherow, Editor It’s not often that Russian is spoken with a Southern accent, but on Sunday, Sept. 16, members of Svetlana Thompson’s family in central Russia heard “приветственная семья – Welcome, family of Lana,” in a distinctly South Georgia drawl. From half a world away, they watched via livestream as Rev. Ted Goshorn, pastor of Eastman United Methodist Church, welcomed congregants to worship and led the congregation through the liturgy from The United Methodist Hymnal. Svetlana ...

The Appointive Cabinet and the Compass Group met together September 10, 2018, at Wesley Glen Ministries in Macon for a collaborative session focusing on the many initiatives they are jointly sponsoring for the South Georgia Conference.   This meeting means a great deal to me because it represents the culmination of two years of work in team building among the members of both groups. We have such talented, devoted disciples of Christ on our conference staff. My personal mission has been to ...

Each month the Office of Connectional Ministries offers a toolkit which includes a wealth of resources focusing on a different theme to resource your local church in nurture, outreach, witness and advocacy ministries.​ During Advent, we prepare for, and anticipate, the coming of Christ. We remember the longing of Jews for a Messiah and our own longing for, and need of, forgiveness, salvation and a new beginning. Even as we look back and celebrate the birth of Jesus in a humble stable in ...

By Kara Witherow, Editor Transition is tough, whether it’s getting a new appointment and moving to a new town and church or receiving a new pastor. Getting a jump start to help further the process can be an invaluable tool for all involved. The South Georgia Conference has embraced On Boarding, a corporate technique for getting a fast start in executive leadership through early, candid dialogue, assisted by an outside consultant. A corporate strategy that’s been adapted for ministry settings ...

As Florence continues to drench the Carolinas, dumping record amounts of rain on the region that has and will continue to lead to devastating flooding, South Georgia United Methodists ask, “How can we help?” The tropical depression, which was downgraded from a Category 1 hurricane after it made landfall in Wrightsville Beach, N.C. Friday, has swamped communities in North Carolina and South Carolina, damaged thousands of homes and businesses, and left hundreds of thousands without power. At ...

OUR CONNECTION MATTERS NITA CRUMP 35Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. 36Simon and his companions went to look for him, 37and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!” Mark 1:35-37 Years ago, as a nursing home administrator, I served one that was part of a national chain. The home office was in Texas. Keep in mind that this was in the late 80s. The best option for being ...

Dear pastor, I am writing to let you know about the upcoming Discover event happening October 19 – 21, 2018. Discover is designed for young adults (ages 18-25) who feel a call to ministry and would like to explore different possibilities of serving The United Methodist Church.  Over the course of a weekend, participants will meet a wide variety of ministers (clergy and lay) who are using their unique gifts to serve the church. Participants will have time to talk with ministers from diverse ...

Hurricane Florence has made landfall along the east coast and is predicted to move slowly through the Carolinas and Southeast throughout this weekend causing inland rainfall flooding, life-threatening storm surge and possible mudslides. Parts of South Georgia can expect some rain and windy conditions. You should stay tuned to your local weather source for updated information for your area. The Disaster Response Team will continue to monitor this storm and the updates very closely as the storm ...

GROWING IN GRACE BEN GOSDEN Bishop Bryan is busy traveling the Conference speaking with members of each district of South Georgia about General Conference 2019 and the work of the Commission on a Way Forward. As we prepare for the conversations in our respective districts, I want to share three important practices I think we all should engage in as we enter into potentially difficult conversations. (I realize that three districts will have already had their event by the time you read this ...

FROM THE BISHOP R. LAWSON BRYAN Attendance at the Way Forward district meetings has been outstanding. With nearly 500 people present in Columbus, nearly 400 in Statesboro, and around 350 in Valdosta, the interest of our church members and pastors is certainly evident. Those present at each gathering have inspired me with their sincere devotion, their deep love for the Church, and their passionate desire to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.  The three remaining...

Laity have long been an integral part of Methodist ministry. Lay leaders, lay speakers, and lay missioners have served the church almost since its inception. Certified Lay Ministers (CLMs) typically provide ministry in part-time or volunteer roles in a variety of formats including conducting public worship, caring for the congregation, assisting in program leadership, developing new and existing faith communities, preaching the Word, leading small groups, and establishing community outreach ...

South Georgia’s General Conference delegation will host three listening post sessions to provide South Georgia clergy and laity the opportunity to share their thoughts and take part in the Way Forward conversation. Three listening sessions will be held, and several delegation members will be present at each meeting. Thursday, October 11             The Chapel, Brunswick          10 a.m. – noon Wednesday, October 17         Centenary UMC, Macon        10 a.m. – noon Thursday, October 25        ...

JOHN WESLEY MOMENTS DAVE HANSON John Wesley had discussed with a friend whether or not it would be a good thing for him to marry, and on February 2, 1751, he decided to do so. He was 47 years old and his bride, Molly Vazelle, was a wealthy widow with four children. She was 41 years old. Her merchant husband had died four years previously. It is interesting that this marriage occurred just days after John had urged Methodist ministers not to marry unless there were exceptional reasons to do so....

KidzQuest, an annual children’s retreat sponsored by South Georgia’s Connectional Ministries, will be held September 21-23 at Epworth By The Sea on St. Simons Island. The theme, “This Wild Life,” will be the foundation of the weekend and will help show kids just how wild their faith journey can be! As Joshua 1:9 commands us to be strong, brave, and not afraid, kids will learn that “I [God] will be there to help you wherever you go.” What a promise!  Designed for students in third through sixth ...

By Kara Witherow, Editor In a season when The United Methodist Church is fraught with discord, distrust, and dissension, more than 250 South Georgia clergy and laity have signed an online petition to demonstrate their commitment to unity. The “Hope Through Unity” open letter was published last month and has gained attention around the Conference and the connection. The writers hope to build a coalition of people on both sides of the human sexuality debate who support unity. “Our hope is ...

Bishop Lawson Bryan has announced appointments for three local church positions effective October 1. Dr. Tony Caldwell, currently serving as pastor of Montezuma United Methodist Church, will be appointed to Hinesville First United Methodist Church. Rev. Jonathan Beckum, currently serving at Ellaville United Methodist Church and Corinth United Methodist Church, has been appointed to Montezuma UMC. Haynes Martin, a certified candidate currently serving as assistant pastor at Martha Bowman United ...

The conference office has been notified of a spoofing email making the rounds to various South Georgia United Methodists appearing as a message from Bishop Bryan. We recommend that you don't open attachments or give your personal information to anyone unless you are sure about the email address.  We ask that you submit/flag the email to your provider as a spam. Remember now and in the future that the conference sends emails from official conference emails addresses only. Anytime you receive ...

OUR CONNECTION MATTERS NITA CRUMP “It’s not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What’s important is that God makes the seed grow. The one who plants and the one who waters work together with the same purpose. And both will be rewarded for their own hard work. For we are both God’s workers….” 1 Corinthians 3:7-9a (NLT) In my early years in ministry I served as the associate pastor. Let me say thank you to the person who was handed the responsibility of serving as my ...

PATHWAY TO HIS PRESENCE B.J. FUNK When I was growing up, my daddy emptied our garbage cans every other day. If he didn’t, the cans would fill to overflowing. If the garbage was in the kitchen, he took it out more often so that leftover food would not begin to smell. If you had asked me what I knew about garbage, I would have considered that a weird question. I wasn’t supposed to know anything about garbage. It belonged out of our house, and daddy saw to that. Around 40 years ago, the late ...

By Kara Witherow, Editor Fresh out of seminary or License to Preach school most pastors enter into vocational ministry feeling pretty well prepared to preach, teach Bible studies, lead theological discussions, and make disciples. But too often they receive their first or second appointment and are thrust into a situation for which they feel completely unprepared – a finance committee meeting. There are no financial classes taught at seminary, and precious few hours are spent on preparing ...

By Kara Witherow, Editor This semester, nearly 75 of Telfair County’s public-school students are receiving biblical, Christ-centered education during the school day. They’re not just learning about the Bible as an influential piece of literature or about Christianity in the context of a world religion class, but instead they’re learning about creation-based science, apologetics, and stewardship. This is thanks to a new partnership between several Telfair County churches that led to the ...

Now that the full report of the Commission on a Way Forward has been released to the public, I am looking forward to discussing it with laity and clergy of each district. Here is the schedule for the six district meetings:  August 16 – Northwest District | 6:30 pm – 8 pm at St. Luke UMC, Columbus August 20 – Northeast District | 6:30 pm – 8 pm at Pittman Park UMC, Statesboro August 27 – South Central District | 6:30 pm – 8 pm at Valdosta FUMC September 6 – Coastal District | 6:30 pm – 8 pm at ...

Clay Brown, a member of Whigham UMC​, stands outside the church next to the Little Free Pantry he built and installed as his Boy Scout Eagle Scout project. By Kara Witherow, Editor Broxton United Methodist Church may be a small church in a small town, but the congregation’s generosity knows no bounds. Broxton UMC is just one of a handful of South Georgia United Methodist Churches who have embraced a grassroots movement to address food insecurity by installing Blessing Boxes, tiny pantries ...

LEADERSHIP REALLY MATTERS ANNE BOSARGE REV. JAY HANSON How would you define “a consuming intimacy with God?” How long has it been since you were hungry and thirsty for a deeper relationship with Him? Those questions and many like it have filled my thoughts lately and have caused my heart to deeply desire living in a constant state of intimacy with God. But how do we achieve that level of intimacy? Recently my practice has been to read a passage of scripture several times while imagining myself...

JOHN WESLEY MOMENTS DAVE HANSON Wesley told his followers that they should support their local Church of England and go there for worship and Holy Communion. Some asked him, “But what should we do if the pastor teaches doctrines we do not believe, like predestination? Or if he says there can be no Christian perfection this side of heaven? Or preaches against enthusiasm?” Wesley would reply to them and to us today, “In that case you should simply and quietly get up and leave the sanctuary. Do ...