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I've Been Thinking
I've been thinking about "Oil and Water: The Power of Place, The Gift of Grace" which is the title of my sabbatical project planned for this year. As many of you are aware, I have a renewal leave scheduled for this summer.
The Book of Discipline in Paragraph 351 provides for formational and spiritual growth leave...
Throughout their careers, clergy shall engage in continuing education for ministry, professional development, and spiritual formation and growth, in order to lead the church in fulfilling the mission of making disciples for Jesus Christ. This shall include carefully developed personal programs of study augmented periodically by involvement in organized educational and spiritual growth activities.
It states further that pastors are required to take at least one week a year, one month every four years and are allowed up to six months of leave every six years. In the paragraph above, the word "shall" makes this responsibility a requirement. The text is also clear in exempting vacation time from this allotment.
In keeping with this section of the Discipline, I have requested spiritual renewal leave for eight weeks this year that will begin around May 15 and continue until July 8. The exact dates are not firmly set. An award from The Louisville Institute of Louisville Seminary will cover much of the expense for the leave. In consultation with our Staff-Parish relations committee, associate pastors, district superintendent and bishop; I applied for the competitive grant last fall. Much to my surprise, I was awarded one of 46 grants from a pool of 437applicants. These funds will make it possible for Dorothy, Savannah, Emma and I to travel as a family.
The funded project provides for a pilgrimage to historic places of worship and community in Italy centered on the work of St. Francis and St. Benedict and for a two-week monastic retreat. I also will spend a couple of weeks in retreat locally focusing on the regrowth and resiliency of the coastal environment.
The importance of taking time apart for prayer and fasting or spiritual renewal fills our Scriptures. Sabbath practices for every seventh day and year were part of God's earliest covenants with his people. Most notably, Jesus observed Sabbath for spiritual formation. He went apart into the wilderness to prepare for his ministry and often withdrew from his flock to go to a "lonely place". I hope you will share in the excitement of this opportunity for me to grow as your pastor. But more importantly, I hope you will consider how you might also plan "Sabbath" in your busy life and find the renewal and spiritual growth that time apart can offer.
With Gratitude for your ministry!
Rev. Rod Dickson-Rishel
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Electronic Newsletter
We are in the process of converting to an electronic newsletter. There are several positive aspects to this change, first and foremost the savings of the cost of mailing the newsletter. If you would like to receive your newsletter electronically please either call Alice in the church office at 863-9619 or you can e-mail your address to
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This Week at First United Methodist Church
Sunday
8:30 Sanctuary Morning Worship
9:45 Sunday School
11:00 Sanctuary Morning Worship
11:00 Worship @ The Well - Fleming Auditorium USM Gulf Park
3:30 Puppets
5:00 Moms In Touch
5:00 UMYF
Monday
6:00 Boy Scouts - CLC
Tuesday
9:00 Ladies Bible Study
6:00 Boy Scouts - CLC
Wednesday
11:45 O.A.K.S. Luncheon
12:30 Moms in Touch
5:30 Youth Ministry Heart & Soul
7:00 Chancel Choir
Thursday
5:00 Bible Study - Good News class
Saturday
Boy Scouts - Pinewood Derby
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Prayer Concerns
Mary Margaret Willems, Austin Barker, PC & Dee Havens, John Holmes, Thomas Free, Inez Jordan, Polly Mincher, & Teresa Wilson
2012 Flower Calendar
If you would like to place flowers in the sanctuary for 2012 in memory or honor of someone please contact the church office at 863-9619
Missions Ministry
We are in the process of compliling a list of mssions ministry projects that First United Methodist Church is involved in. If you are aware of any mission projects, please contact Lynn Bourdin @ 228-223-7208 or
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with the mission and a contact person to that mission. Any help would be appreciated.
Backpack Buddy Program
Don't forget your Backpack Buddy donations! A new semester has started, and we want to help as many kids as we can!
Our Backpack Buddy packing schedule is:
Jan.24th, 6 pm
Feb.1, 10:30 am
Feb.7, 6 pm
Feb.15, 10:30 am
Feb.21, 6 pm
Feb.29, 10:30 am
Youth News
Attention All Artists!!! It's that time again! The annual Art & Soul Youth Fundraiser will be Sunday, March 4 at 6pm. If you have any pieces that you would like to donate, please drop them off in the youth hall, labeled. If you have any questions, please contact Mary Woodruff.
2012 Confirmation Class Forming
If you know of someone who is interested in confirmation for students in sixth grade or above please contact Rod or the Alice. We will form the class over the next few weeks. Our specific meeting schedule and confirmation service date will depend on the schedule of the participants.
Thank You
We want to thank you again for singing Christmas songs for us. It was beautiful and touched our hearts. Thanks also for the fruit and goodies, we enjoyed them and enjoyed sharing some. The CD of the Christmas cantata was really special since Wanda missed hearing that beautiful program. The music program at First United Methodist Church are wonderful and such an important ministry. Our love and prayers, Jim & Wanda Miller
Blood Drive
There will be a blood drive for Austin Barker on Monday, January 30, 2012 from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Energy Club @ 2 Tower Plaza, Long Beach.
Souper Bowl Luncheon will be held on Sunday, February 6th in the CLC. The Souper Bowl Missions Fundraiser luncheon will begin at 11:00 a.m. all donations are greatly appreciated. If you can contribute a crockpot of soup or dessert please contact Grace Gingles at 864-4339.
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