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SouthWest News and Updates                                                         View this email in your browser

Ready, set…

It’s been a tough 2 years, and we are ready to GO! 2 years without our Annual Conference Gathering each June in Athens rendered us more disconnected from one another. Disconnection leads to tugs in different directions, which hurts our Body of Christ. Indeed, some of us have decided we are really ready to go…

Delegates and clergy of the SW District, I pray you will make every effort to be present on June 2—body, mind and spirit.  Christ has shown us that we exist for communion with God and one another. None of us exists in isolation, even when we feel we would prefer it. At the very least, none of us thrives alone.


And so, we come to the table, ready to take our place, break bread together and celebrate wherever and whatever we can. In the rest, we come to the table to comfort and bless our brothers and sisters in Christ.

We are ready; we are almost set, and for all of us, it is time to GO and make Disciples of Jesus Christ for the Transformation of the World.

 Athens, here we come! And I’ll see you at the table,

Yours In Christ,
Susan

The Grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.  2 Corinthians 13:13

 

Annual Conference Details

Pre-Conference Briefing - All delegates, clergy and laity, are encouraged to participate in this virtual meeting being held on Sunday, May 15 at 2:00pm.  
Delegate Handbooks will be available for download on the conference website on May 15. 
Online Registration will be open from May 15-31.  All delegates are asked to register during this time.
The Special Offering for Annual Conference will go to United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR).  Churches are invited to collect the offering any time before Annual Conference.  One person from each local church will have an opportunity to present a check from their church during the Service of Remembrance on Friday, June, or checks may be submitted to the Conference Office.  
Blue Print for Wellness Screening for HealthFlex participants will be available at Annual Conference on the mornings of June 2, 3, & 4.  Registration for on-site appointments ends on May 19.  

More details on all of these events can be found on the Annual Conference page of the Conference Website.
Annual Conference Information

Congratulations to Rev. Kaylen Short and the members of Pine Mountain First UMC who recently celebrated the retirement of their mortgage debit with a Note Burning!


Wesley Woods Mother's Day Offering

May 8
Plan to give generously to our Conference-wide Wesley Woods Mother's Day Offering. Through your generosity, Wesley Woods serves 1,800 older adults each year in their 10 communities. Your support funds financial assistance for meals and housing to residents who have the gift of a long life but may have outlived their resources. In addition, the Mother's Day Offering supports on-site chaplains and innovative wellness programs. This is our opportunity to provide love and care for grateful seniors. Your church may collect the offering on May 8 or another Sunday that works for your congregation.
LEARN MORE 

Georgia Pastors' School provides inspiration, education, fellowship, fun and relaxation for North and South Georgia clergy and their families.  Active and retired United Methodist clergy are cordially invited to experience this combination of continuing education and personal renewal. Register today.

GUMF Faith & Money May 2022 Newsletter Promotes Attractive Certificate Rates
The Georgia United Methodist Foundation’s Faith & Money May 2022 newsletter is now available at: www.gumf.org/blog/
 

United Methodist Men Announces New Resources and Brand

Nashville, TN - April 4th, 2022 - The General Commission on United Methodist Men (GCUMM)
is introducing a “modern way” of doing men’s ministry. Greg Arnold, General Secretary & CEO,
said we are approaching men’s and scouting ministry with a much larger and more modern
vision. The Commission has re-imaged how men’s and scouting ministry can be effectively
offered, packaged, and distributed to the church and world around us.
Launching a new program and brand, “United Men’s Ministry”, along with several innovative
products is quite an ambitious undertaking during a time of uncertainty within the UMC. “Our
vision is to offer a credible resource which meets men and youth where they are. Discipleship
has been the focus of the church for 2000 years and cannot take a back seat to the current
administrative discussions of the church.”

Arnold says, “The older chartering model has been showing a steady decline over the past
several years and placing its effectiveness in question. We’ll continue to offer the chartering
model of service according to our book of discipline mandate, however, we’re adding these
new and exciting ways to serve the men, youth, and families of the church.”
UNITED Men’s Ministry is an innovative online resource providing an easy-to-follow package of
resources including leader coaching, online learning, support, topical studies, connection, and
more. Each subscribed church will receive a “kick off kit” packed with items when signing up
for UNITED Men’s Ministry. The goal is to help churches launch, grow, and sustain effective
men’s ministry.”

The UNITED Men’s Ministry product is designed to help any local church easily provide a
consistent men’s ministry. The model is wrapped around a process rather than dependent
upon a program. UNITED is layered with the framework of a well developed discipleship
pathway, small group support resources, and leader’s materials. All of which are deeply rooted
in the Wesleyan tradition and presented in a fresh approach.

Every church leader who feels their men’s ministry effort could use a restart, and upgrade, or a
boost is encouraged to visit: UnitedMensMinistry.com to get in on the launch, happening May
1st, 2022. Simply register on the website for the launch event and join the movement.

Contact:
gcumm@gcumm.org
1000 17th Avenue South
Nashville, TN 37212
Ph: (615) 620-7266
Image result for image, Job OPening
Life Springs UMC in Zebulon is looking for a Director for their Life Springs Academy. For more information, contact Rev. Alex McGinnis at 770-567-3921 or alex.mcginnis@ngumc.net.
Image result for image, Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday to the following pastors in the SouthWest District celebrating birthdays in May:
2 - Brandon Fletcher
3 - Aubrey Thompson
     Shane Moore
13 - David Ahearn
        Whitney Hair
16 - Brenda Rhodes
17 - Howard Gossett
19 - Moses Woodruff
20 - Debby Stikes
       Yolanda Jones-Colton
21 - Claude Herbert
28 - Michael Jackson 
31 - Kaylen Short
 
SouthWest District
P. O. Box 13
430 W. Poplar Street
Griffin, GA 30224
770-227-1074
southwest@ngumc.net






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The North Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church · 1700 Century Cir NE · Atlanta, GA 30345-3020 · USA