Hoosier United Methodist e-NEWS for March 12, 2010

HOOSIER UNITED METHODIST e-newsletter

March is Women’s History and Disability Awareness Month
For Friday, March 12, 2010 – Sunday is the fourth Sunday in Lent (purple) – One Great Hour of Sharing
DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME BEGINS THIS SUNDAY.
Here’s a song to help choirs, preachers and Sunday school teachers remember to change your clocks.
This newsletter is paid for through your annual conference tithe. Thank you.
Edited by Dan Gangler, director of communication

Deadline for submitting items is noon Wednesday.

2010 INDIANA ANNUAL CONFERENCE AT
BALL STATE IN MUNCIE, JUNE 10-13

THIS WEEK’S NEWS HEADLINES

• Hoosier United Methodists Give $455,684 for Haiti Earthquake Relief
• One Great Hour of Sharing to be Celebrated this Coming Sunday, March 14
• Giving, Membership Decline in Recession
• United Methodist Men Begin New Chapter
• Young Adult Scholarships Available for Caring for Creation
• ‘Wesley’ May Be Coming to a Theater near You
• Abingdon Press Expands Digital Distribution
• NCC Salutes Women of Faith in March
• Pauley, Lubbers to Deliver UIndy Commencement Addresses
• Indiana Jobless Rate Holds at 9.7 Percent

BIBLE PASSAGE FOR SUNDAY

One day when many tax collectors and other outcasts came to listen to Jesus, the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law started grumbling, “This man welcomes outcasts and even eats with them!” So Jesus told them this parable: Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them – what do you do? You leave the other 99 sheep in the pasture and go looking for the one that got lost until you find it. When you find it, you are so happy that you put it on your shoulders and carry it back home. Then you call your friends and neighbors together and say to them, “I am so happy I found my lost sheep. Let us celebrate!” In the same way, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over 99 respectable people who do not need to repent.

– Luke 15:1-3
Good News Translation
www.americanbible.org

HAITI RELIEF EFFORTS

For the latest news about the Haiti Emergency, visit www.umc.org/haiti, www.umcor.org and www.churchworldservice.com.

NEWS

Hoosier United Methodists Give $455,684 for Haiti Earthquake Relief

Hoosier United Methodists gave $455,684 for Haiti earthquake relief and recovery during the months of January and February. The funds were given by local United Methodist churches across Indiana and were sent to the United Methodist Committee on Relief for the Haiti emergency. One hundred percent of these funds will be used by UMCOR in partnership with the Methodist Church of Haiti for the church’s relief efforts during the next five years in Haiti. This past month, UMCOR opened a field office in Port-au-Prince and hired five full-time staff as part of a five-year plan to help rebuild Haiti after the Jan. 12 earthquake.

In response, Indiana United Methodist Bishop Mike Coyner said, “I am very proud but not surprised by this generous response. Our Indiana United Methodist people are generous and passionate about missions and helping those in need. I thank God for these gifts.”

Hoosier United Methodists across the state have already made and sent to the Midwest Mission Distribution Center in Chatham, near Springfield, Ill., tens-of-thousands of personal hygiene kits for distribution in Haiti. Other United Methodists are preparing to work with UMCOR as volunteers to Haiti during the recovery. Classes in emergency response will be held March 20 at First United Methodist Church in Bloomington, Ind. and April 10 at New Life United Methodist Church near Mexico, Ind. United Methodists in northwest Indiana are partnering with the Children of Abraham relief agency to provide tents at $150 each to protect Haitians without homes during the rainy season which has begun.

Gifts to support UMCOR's relief efforts in Haiti can be made online by visiting www.umcorhaiti.org. Gifts can be given through any local United Methodist Church. For gifts by mail, please make checks payable to UMCOR and mail to UMCOR, PO Box 9068, New York, NY 10087. Please indicate Haiti Emergency, UMCOR Advance #418325, on the memo line of your check.

One Great Hour of Sharing to be Celebrated this Coming Sunday, March 14

When the first tremors of the earthquake in Haiti rocked that island nation, UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief) staff was already in the country, strategizing how United Methodists could help improve the lives of the people there. Their work is a direct result of the One Great Hour of Sharing Offering, which supports the operating expenses of those who bring healing and help in our name. It makes it possible, when we respond to an emergency like Haiti, to know that 100 percent of our gift goes directly to where the suffering is happening. For more information, visit umcgiving.org/specialsundays.

Giving, Membership Decline in Recession

The recession continues to affect giving to The United Methodist Church at a time when the denomination is experiencing its largest percentage decline in membership since 1974.

United Methodist churches in the 63 annual conferences of the U.S. contributed 84 percent of what the denomination budgeted to support ministries around the world in 2009. The total apportioned was $150.3 million; $126.3 million was collected.

Meanwhile, membership dropped 1.01 percent to 7,774,420 in 2008, according to the latest data from the United Methodist General Council on Finance and Administration. The council coordinates and administers finances for the denomination. Average worship attendance was down 1.83 percent.

For the complete story, click here.

United Methodist Men Begin New Chapter

United Methodist Men want to be known less as a group of retired old men eating out and more as advocates for the hungry. Marking a new era, the organization has elected a new chief executive, is expanding its hunger ministries, and is creating a new online learning center.

The National Association of Conference Presidents of United Methodist Men, meeting March 3-7 in Nashville, installed Gilbert C. Hanke as the new chief executive officer of the General Commission on United Methodist Men.

Hanke, a speech pathologist who has made 12 mission trips to Haiti, showed the men slides of the destroyed school where he once provided hearing aids. As a part of the installation service, the conference presidents and their prayer advocates presented a $2,000 check to the United Methodist Committee on Relief for Haiti relief in his honor. The 42 presidents, including David Martin of Indiana, and their 23 prayer advocates, also learned about plans to launch an online learning center to provide continuing education experiences for persons interested in men’s ministry, scouting, prayer and anti-hunger activities.

The commission has already developed a 12-hour, 16-segment training course titled "Understanding Men's Ministry." The course is based upon the content and materials used in the No-Man-Left-Behind training offered by Orlando, Fla.-based Man in the Mirror. Read more here.

Young Adult Scholarships Available for Caring for Creation

LAKE JUNALUSKA, N.C. (UMNS) – Caring for Creation, set for April 8-11 at the Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center, helps members of faith communities learn ways to care for the earth. Scholarships are currently available for ethnic young adults ages 18-35. Scholarship money will cover registration fee, housing and meals. For more information, contact Loy Lilley, 828-454-6750, llilley@lakejunaluska.com, or visit www.lakejunaluska.com.

‘Wesley’ May Be Coming to a Theater near You

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) – A Moravian preacher is bringing the film “Wesley” to a movie theater near you. The two-hour movie that is slowly building a platform in theaters across the United States brings to life the story of the founder of Methodism. The Rev. John Jackman, 53, pastor of Trinity Moravian Church in Winston-Salem, N.C., says he got into the movie business as a way of telling stories of redemption, and John Wesley’s story has enough action for several films. “I wish I could have made this into a mini-series,” Jackman says. “There is enough great material here to make an eight-hour film.”

Read the complete story from the March issue of the Hoosier United Methodists Together.

Abingdon Press Expands Digital Distribution

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) – Along with more than 250 titles currently available on Amazon’s Kindle, Abingdon Press is preparing to deliver content on Blio and nook platforms, offering download options on Symtio, and providing first chapters and metadata via Dial-A-Book. Over the next few months, the United Methodist publisher will prepare e-book versions of “Enough” by Adam Hamilton and “The Prayers of Agnes Sparrow,” a novel by Joyce Magnin that was downloaded more than 7,000 times.

NCC Salutes Women of Faith in March

NEW YORK (UMNS) – Twenty women who have made an impact on faith are being saluted by the National Council of Churches as part of Women's History Month. The women will be featured daily at www.ncccusa.org. Persons following the series may also name women who have made a special impact on their lives by contributing to the “Circles of Names” campaign to support women's ministries and gender justice programs in NCC member communions. More information on the campaign can be found at http://circlesofnames.org/ .

Pauley, Lubbers to Deliver UIndy Commencement Addresses

INDIANAPOLIS (UIndy) – Award-winning broadcast journalist, Jane Pauley, will return to her hometown to deliver the undergraduate commencement address May 1 at the United Methodist-related University of Indianapolis. Indiana Commissioner of Higher Education, Teresa Lubbers, will be the speaker for UIndy’s graduate programs commencement April 30.

Both speakers also will receive honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degrees during the commencement ceremonies, which will take place in the university’s Nicoson Hall at Hanna and State Avenues.

Indiana Jobless Rate Holds at 9.7 Percent

Indiana’s unemployment rate remained unchanged in January, state officials announced today. December’s rate of 9.7 percent remained the same for January, based on a slowing of job losses, Teresa Voors, commissioner of the Department of Workforce Development, said in a statement (Associated Press). The national rate for January also was at 9.7 percent. Three sectors led Indiana losses in January: private education and health services cut 5,700 jobs; leisure and hospitality fell by 2,600 positions; and construction lost 2,220 jobs. Growth sectors included manufacturing adding 3,900 jobs. Also, financial activities and professional and business services each added 6,000 in January. The December figures showed that more than 300,000 Hoosiers were looking for work. – Howey Politics Indiana

For more United Methodist news and information, log on to www.umc.org and click on NEWS.

WORSHIP RESOURCES

Worship Resources for Women’s History Month (March)

• Click here.

Rethink Church Lenten Season Sermon Starters

Rethink Church is offering sermon starters for the Lenten season to help you reach seekers and connect in new ways with your community. A Journey to Hope, begins on Ash Wednesday with an invitation to travel with Jesus to the cross. As participants encounter real life issues along the way, we see that God's light is sometimes even brighter in the darkness and that hope can be found even in the most unlikely places.This Lenten season, take a journey to hope and share that hope with the world.

MINISTRY RESOURCES

Join Creation Care Network on Facebook

Help us build your Creation Care Network. How do you care for the environment?

Does your congregation have a “green team” or a creation care ministry? Creation care is an act of faith. Join the Indiana Conference Creation Care Group on Facebook and share your interests or stories, or e-mail Dennis Shock, your Indiana Conference Creation Care Network Coordinator at dennis.shock@gmail.com. – Sponsored by the Indiana Conference Social Advocacy, Justice and Ethnic Ministry Team

Lent and Easter Resources Available From EcuFilm

• Check out these Lent and Easter resources from EcuFilm 2010

Lenten Resources Addresses Global Water Crisis

NEW YORK (UMNS) – The United Methodist Committee on Relief and Church World Service are part of a coalition of faith-based relief and development groups endorsing a Lenten resource addressing the global water and sanitation crisis. The WASH (WAter Sanitation & Hygiene) for Lent Initiative has been set up to encourage getting involved with organizations responding to the crisis as a focus of their Lenten journey. A Web site, WASH for Lent (http://washforlent.wordpress.com), includes links to many groups, statistics and information about WASH, and offers weekly devotionals.

Media Center Picks for the Month of March

The newly united Indiana Conference Media Center is up and running. Here are March’s Media Picks. Matthew 28:19 urges us to “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.” Ask about our new Confirmation resources! Find out how we can help with new membership classes. We have resources for all ages – Go therefore and Grow Disciples in YOUR Church!

• DVD66 Baptism in The United Methodist Church: A Companion DVD to "By Water and the Spirit"
• DVD68 Disciple: Training DVD
• DVD87 Growing to Be Like Christ: Purpose Driven Life Series
• VHS401 Growing True Disciples of Jesus
• DVD196 Foundations: 11 Core Truths to Build Your Life On
• VHS487 Foundations for Discipleship
• VHS684 Man to Man
• DVD165 Momentum for Life-DVD Journal
• Kit90 Purpose Driven Youth Ministry Training Kit-Strategic Team Building
• DVD133 Renew Your Passion-Worship Connection
• VHS948 The Retreat
• DVD212 Transforming Children Into Spiritual Champions /Developing a Biblical Worldview on DVD

The Indiana Conference Media Center is open at the Sunnycrest UMC, 1921 W. Bradford Street in Marion, IN 46952, according to Media Center Director Angel Rea. The local phone number for the Media Center is 765-662-922 or call the Conference Center toll-free at 877-781-6706 and ask for your call to be transferred to the Media Center. Angel’s e-mail address is angel.rea@inumc.org. The Media Center hours are Mondays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Change the World – Starting With Your Community Beginning April 24-25

What if…on one weekend all around the world, United Methodists came together to work with their local communities? What if…as we serve people locally, we unite globally to eliminate a preventable, treatable disease that kills one child every 30 seconds?

The Rev. Mike Slaughter, lead pastor at Ginghamsburg Church in Tipp City, Ohio, has written a book called Change the World: Recovering the Mission and Message of Jesus, released in February 2010. He emphasizes, “As the United Methodist Church, we have worried too much about getting numbers into our churches instead of getting the people in our churches out into the world in relative ways. Even our smallest churches can have incredible impact when they leave their four walls to serve the needs of their neighbors, alongside of their neighbors.” Be one who makes a change and together, we can change the world. To get involved go to rethinkchurch.org/changetheworld.

DEATHS

JOHN D. ABBOTT, SR., 87, father of the Rev. John D. Abbott, Jr., an Elder of the Indiana Conference now on incapacity leave, died Saturday, March 6, 2010. The older Abbott served as a clergyman for more than 50 years and was a member of the Wesleyan Church, Easton, Md., in the Chesapeake District. A memorial service was held Thursday, March 11, at the Middlebury Church of the Brethren near Elkhart with burial at Grace Lawn Cemetery in Middlebury. Survivors include: his wife, Gladys Kirkendall Abbott; sons, John D. Abbott, Jr. of Indianapolis and Kenneth W. Abbott of Bristol; eight grandchildren; six great-grandchildren. Memorials may be given to the Salvation Army. Condolences can be sent to the Rev. John D. Abbott, Jr., 153 Woodsong Place, Indianapolis, IN 46229-3150.

THURL COOK, husband of the Rev. Pam Cook serving Paoli UMC in the South District of the Indiana Conference, died Friday, March 5, 2010. Visitation has been scheduled for Friday, March 12, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Smith & Ogle Funeral Home at 5086 College Corner Pike in Oxford, Ohio. A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 13, at College Corner UMC, 89 Church Street, West College Corner, IN 47003 on the Indiana-Ohio state line, northwest of Oxford, Ohio. Condolences can be sent to the Rev. Pam Cook, 1167 S. SR 37, Paoli, IN 47454-9582.

JAMES LAMAR RAY, an Elder in the Indiana Conference and former administrator at Asbury Towers in Greencastle, Ind., died Tuesday, March 9, 2010. There is no visitation before the memorial service to be held at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, March 15, in the Wright Memorial Chapel at the Franklin United Methodist Community, 1070 W. Jefferson Street in Franklin, Ind. The family will greet guests following the memorial service. Survivors include: his wife, Marilynn Ray; son, David Ray, 7845 Doornock Drive, Indianapolis 46227 and a daughter, Rachel Cleveland, 7701 Alloway Lane, Beltsville, MD 20705. Condolences can be sent to Marilynn Ray, Franklin United Methodist Community, 1070 W. Jefferson Street, Franklin, IN 46131.

BEN VAN WIJK, father of Ed van Wijk, pastor of Kentland Trinity in the West District, died Sunday, Feb. 28, 2010, at his home in Dordrecht, the Netherlands. A memorial service was held Friday, March 5, at Christelijke Gereformeerde Zuidhovenkerk, Dordrecht in the Netherlands. Condolences can be sent to the Rev. Ed van Wijk, P.O. Box 365, Remington, IN 47977.

MINISTERIAL APPOINTMENTS

Bishop Michael J. Coyner has announced the following changes within the Indiana Area. These appointments are based on Cabinet reports received by e-HUM the week of March 12.

• Altergott, Karen from Westerville, North to Fortville, Central, 7/1/2010
• Arnold, Paul D. from Columbia City, Northeast to Lafayette Trinity, Northwest, 7/1/2010
• Conner, Steven K. from Extension Ministry: Chaplaincy at Fort Wayne Parkview Hospital to Taylor Chapel, Northeast, 7/1/2010
• Day, Mark A. from Bourbon First/Atwood Aldersgate, North to Retirement, 7/1/2010
• Dilley, Timothy E. from Ossian, Northeast to Portland Asbury, East, 7/1/2010
• Fager, E. Dean from Plymouth First, North to Logansport First, Northwest, 7/1/2010
• Grayless, Timothy from Leiters Ford/Monterey, Northwest to no appointment, 12/31/2009
• Hamm, Saundra from no appointment to Vienna, South, 1/1/2010
• Hannah, James Morris from Newbern, Southeast to Newbern/Hartsville, Southeast, 2/1/2010
• Lapham, Thomas from Lizton, Central to no appointment, 2/28/2010
• Leffler, Matthew J. from Industry/New Burlington, East to Fort Wayne Trinity, Northeast, 7/1/2010
• Lyth, Richard E. from Sharpsville, North Central to Retirement, 2/28/2010
• Williams, Jacob C. from Lafayette Trinity, Northwest to Valparaiso First, North, 7/1/2010
• Winford, Doris from Anderson New Hope, North Central to Mechanicsburg, North Central, 3/1/2010
• Woodcox, Glenda Ray from Congress Street, Northwest to Retirement, 6/30/2010

NEW EMPLOYMENT LISTINGS

New Albany Church Seeks Keyboardist, Choir Director

Jacobs Chapel United Methodist Church on the north side of New Albany is a happy and loving congregation that has been in ministry to the community, to the nation, and to the world for 175 years. The church seeks a charismatic, energetic, talented and musically gifted individual to be an integral part of our worship service. This position would require three-hours-a-week, one hour for worship on Sunday and one-to-two hours for preparation and rehearsal with the choir.

The successful candidate will also be willing to: share their vision for growth through new worship opportunities, introduce contemporary music to our currently traditional worship service, work with the congregation in developing a contemporary style of worship and incorporate musicians with a variety of specialties. Pay is $3,600 per year. Weddings and funerals are negotiated privately. Interested applicants should submit a resume no later than Wednesday March 31 to: office@jacobschapel.com with subject line: application or send resume to: SPRC Committee, Jacobs Chapel UMC – Keyboardist, 4725 Charlestown Road, New Albany, IN 47150.

Associate Director for Junior High Youth at Indy Church

Job Opening - Associate Director Youth

St. Luke’s UMC in Indianapolis has an opening for an Associate Director for Junior High Youth ministries who will provide intentional ministry for grades 6-8. This Associate brings energy to the Jr. High youth, develops youth and adult leadership, works as a team with the Associate Director for Sr. High Youth and Director of Youth Ministries, connects well with teens, and creates ministry opportunities that promote youth involvement at St. Luke’s UMC. This is a full-time position that pays $12.50 per hour and offers benefits after 90 days.

Executive Director Position Open for UM-related Children’s Home in Central Indiana

Executive Director for reputable, professional, main-line faith-based residential care and educational facility for children and youth in Central Indiana (www.childrenshome.net). Applicants must have relevant Master’s level education (LCSW a plus) and a minimum of five years administrative experience in dealing with real-world macro and micro child care issues. Appointee will be passionate for the organization’s mission and compassionate toward those it serves and a ‘believer and doer’ of the faith that founded and supports it. The appointee will be a resourceful, visionary leader committed to growth, and will set a tone of active engagement with the Board of Directors through which both the roles of governance and administration are strengthened and enhanced. Further, the appointee will be a fiscally alert and careful steward of resources, a capable fund-raiser, and an energetic and inspirational leader for the staff. Send cover letter and resume to inspireexcellence.iumch@gmail.com.

Other employment opportunities previously listed can be found at www.inumc.org/classifieds.