Young people are being recruited for missional internships in Mobile, AL this summer

Up to 28 interns are being recuited to serve the underprivileged in Mobile, AL this summer.   Selected interns will be challenged to grow spiritually, develop leadership skills, receive mentoring and live in Christian community.   An online application, reference forms, testimonies of past interns, and other info may be found at www.3mlt.com.   A brochure is here to print and share with prospective applicants.   The deadline is March 18, but applications...

FirstWorks receives $7,000 grant

The FirstWorks After-School Children's Program in Memphis has received a $7,000 Valero Memphis Refinery grant, according to Sandra Mathias, FirstWorks board member.   FirstWorks is an academic mission program that enrolls "at-risk" children and youth from zip codes surrounding Highland Heights UMC, at the corner of Summer and Highland in Memphis.    The program stresses academics, but also aims to teach children life skills, give them career...

Pinewood Derby tests tiny cars' speed, design

Cub Scout Pack 455 in Lakeland held their annual Pinewood Derby on Jan. 28 at St. Paul United Methodist Church. Click HERE to read the rest of this story by Shawn Graham on the Memphis Commercial Appeal Web site....

Famine fundraiser - Church youths shine light on hunger with 30 hours of fasting

During a planned 30-hour famine, the youth group at Trinity United Methodist Church will not eat for 30 hours. The teenagers are making a statement with a fundraiser that is designed to raise awareness, as well as funds, for children who die from lack of food worldwide. Click HERE to read the rest of this story by Emily Adams Keplinger on the Memphis Commercial Appeal Web site....

Here's info about using 'Common English Bible' translation during Lent

2012 will be the first Lenten season when the complete Common English Bible translation is available.   To help churches prepare for their Lenten observance, a free CEB Lenten PowerPoint is now available at  (http://CommonEnglishBible.com/CEB/Lentdownloads and http://slideshare.com/CommonEnglishBible).    These links may be placed on Web sites or used in other communications.   The presentation consists of vivid color photography of nature scenes combined with...

Lakeshore now accepting registrations for 2012 summer camps - Check out the many offerings for all ages and special interests

Lakeshore has announced its summer camp schedule for 2012. Lakeshore United Methodist Assembly in Eva, TN is the summer camp and retreat center of the Memphis Conference of The United Methodist Church.   Camps being offered this summer include:   ·        Child & Parent Camp – ages 5 – 9 - June 9-10 ·        Primary Elementary Camp – ages 7-9  – July...

'Caring for Creation' is an important piece of 'Call to Action' - Lawson encourages attendance at March 'Caring for Creation' event

By Rev. Gary D. Lawson, Sr., Executive Director, Lakeshore United Methodist Assembly   We live in a world of more than seven billion people consuming the earth’s resources and we are beginning to see the results on the environment, and, yes, our climate.   Many have shouted out that the issues of the environment are political and have no place in the church. I would argue that when we speak of God's Creation and our first calling as human beings to "tend it and keep...

Clergy spouses can now enroll in 'Virgin Health Miles'

By Rev. Scott Alford, Chairperson, Memphis Conference Clergy Wellness Commission   Effective Jan. 1 of this year, spouses of pastors enrolled in a conference-sponsored pension plan with the United Methodist General Board of Pension and Health Benefits can sign up for the Virgin Health Miles walking program and can register at www.virginhealthmiles.com/memphis.   This walking program is part of the “Healthy You” initiative launched by the Clergy Wellness...

Advanced Lay Speaking class offered Monday nights in April in Brownsville

“Does Your Church Have a Prayer?” is the name of an Advanced Lay Speaking Class being offered on five Mondays in April in Brownsville, TN. The class is open to all laity from all districts of the Memphis Conference. Attendees do not have to be lay speakers.   The class will be offered from 6 to 8 p.m. on April 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30 at the Brownsville District Office at 1489 E. Main Street in Brownsville.   Susan Davidson, Brownsville District Lay Resource Leader, is the...

Wills returns to Nashville Episcopal Area for March 24 Seminar on Wesley Class Meetings

Bishop Dick Wills, retired, will return to the Nashville Episcopal Area Saturday, March 24, to lead a seminar on Wesley Class Meetings. The event will take place at Pleasant View UMC (2621 Church St.) in Pleasant View, TN in the Clarksville District of the Tennessee Conference.   Memphis Conference clergy and laity are invited.   The schedule includes registration and light breakfast from 8 to 9 a.m. with the seminar from 9 a.m. to noon.   Participants are asked to...

Bishop names 'Committee on Uniting Conferences'

Bishop Ben R. Chamness today released the names of the newly appointed Committee on Uniting Conferences.  Co-Chairing the committee will be Gary Shorb, Executive Director of the Methodist LeBonheur Hospital in the Memphis Conference, and Rev. Harriet Bryan, pastor of the Salem UMC in the Tennessee Conference. The first meeting of the committee will be in Jackson, TN on Thursday, March 29.   Committee members from the Memphis Conference include Sandra Burnett, Gerry...

Second film in five-part film series,'Dreaming of Vital Congregations,' now available

What's your favorite memory of church? Data suggests people in the US have fewer positive memories of being in...

Free Lenten devotions program offered by Society of St. Andrew

The Society of St. Andrew invites congregations to participate in its 2012 Lenten devotion and giving program, “Living Proof." The Society of St. Andrew is a hunger relief organization that salvages fresh produce that cannot be sold and delivers it to agencies that feed hungry people in the United States. This organization is one of the beneficiaries of the Memphis Conference 2012 Lenten World Hunger Offering.   A program of spiritual reflection, prayer...

'Gift Legacy e-Newsletter' is new weekly electronic publication from the UM Foundation for the Memphis and Tennessee Conferences

Gift Legacy e-Newsletter is the name of a new newsletter from the United Methodist Foundation for the Memphis and Tennessee Conferences. Anyone – laity and clergy- may sign up to receive the weekly electronic publication that will include information about estate and financial planning, personal interest stories, Washington news and financial updates, according to Vin Walkup, President of the Foundation.   The first issue will be emailed Feb. 19.   Gift Legacy e-Newsletter...

Clergy and laypersons invited to contribute to new 12-Steps resource

In celebration of the 20th anniversary of the United Methodist Special Program on Substance Abuse and Related Violence (SPSARV), clergy and laypersons are invited to contribute to a new resource based on Alcoholics Anonymous 12-Steps to inspire congregations to break the silence about substance abuse. SPSARV plans to publish a sermon series and a bible study to help congregations to study and speak out about alcohol, chemical abuse and dependency and its related violence. Deadlines run from...

Special edition Girl Scout Bible offered by National Association of UM Scouters

The National Association of United Methodist Scouters (NAUMS) has voted to print 1,000 Bibles in honor of the 100th anniversary of Girl Scouts USA. NAUMS is a leading provider of resources for Scouting and civic youth-serving ministry. Phil Craig, Memphis Conference Scouting Ministries Coordinator, serves as treasurer of NAUMS and wants to make sure Girl Scouts in the Memphis Conference have access to some of these Bibles if they are interested. While 300 of the 1,000 Bibles will be...

April 2 is deadline for nominations for The Torch Award for adult leaders in Scouting and civic youth-serving agencies

Monday, April 2, is the deadline for Memphis Conference nominations for the Torch Award that recognizes adult leaders who have given exceptional service in the use and promotion of Scouting and civic youth-serving agencies. The Torch Award is presented by the General Commission on United Methodist Men through its Office of Civic Youth-Serving Agencies/scouting. The award recognizes men and women who have given unusual amounts of time and energy in dedicated service to children and youth...

New UMM group in Dyersburg District is growing and raising money for mission and outreach.

A Memphis Conference United Methodist Men group that formed in the Dyersburg District last November has grown to include more than 20 men and has raised more than $1,000 for mission and local outreach.   Men from Hughlett UMC in Tigret, Ross UMC in Dyersburg and Lighthouse UMC in Alamo make up the group that meets the first Saturday of each month at Hughlett UMC.   Each meeting includes a full breakfast, devotion and fellowship, according to Rev. James Luvene who pastors all three...

March 9 is deadline for young adult applications to become a Global Justice Volunteer

March 9 is the deadline for applications for the Global Justice Volunteers Program, a summer service opportunity for young adults ages 18-30.    Young adults from all over the world from diverse range backgrounds spend their summer (10 weeks) in service in local communities.   Participants explore the role and responsibility of the church to engage in mission, ministry and service which seeks to transform the world into a more just place. They raise...

Memphis Conference students receive $54,100 in scholarships and loans in 2011

Memphis Conference students received a total of $54,100 in scholarships and loans during 2011 from the Office of Loans and Scholarships of the United Methodist General Board of Education & Ministry (GBHEM).   This is according to a November, 2011 report from Allyson Collinsworth, Director of Loans and Scholarships with GBHEM.   The total for the Memphis Conference includes $34,100 in scholarships and $20,000 in loans for graduate and undergraduate students.   &ldquo...