The Circuit Rider October 2024

Mississippi Conference of The United Methodist Church

TheCircuitRider Monthly Newsletter

Tour Prioritizes Prayer for Mississippi Conference

Bishop Lewis prays over attendees during prayer tour at Anderson UMC in Jackson.

Photo courtesy Jasmine Haynes

Jasmine Haynes, Communications Specialist

Bishop Sharma D. Lewis went on a week-long, seven-district prayer tour

across Mississippi with Rev. Dr. Terry Teykl teaching from his book, “Praying Jesus Name for 21 Centuries.” This prayer tour was the latest event created out of the Pray Mississippi Movement, an initiative to foster the spiritual discipline of prayer across the Mississippi Conference. Read more about ways to re-envision how and what to pray and ways we can reignite the power of corporate prayer.

Voyage with Bishop Lewis on Tour Join Bishop Sharma D. Lewis on the Civil Rights Educational Opportunities (EO) Tour happening March 11-16, 2025. Based on Ezekiel 11:19 and themed “No Stone Unturned for Justice,” this transformative tour will explore some of the most significant sites associated with the American Civil Rights Movement. Click here to learn more about this exciting opportunity. Share this personal invitation from Bishop Lewis with your churches and colleagues by clicking here.

Photo courtesy of the Western North Carolina Conference

Hurricane Helene, Milton Disaster Response Update

IN THIS ISSUE:

Rev. Thomas Toole, second from left, with pickleball ministry students.

Matthew Johnson, Communications Assistant

Two new Wesley Foundation directors at the University of Mississippi in Oxford, and Jackson State University in Jackson are taking exciting approaches to build comfortable spaces for students to worship and fellowship with their peers. Wesley Foundations on the campuses of Mississippi colleges and universities provide a caring Christian environment for students to grow and develop spiritually. Read More

Rust A’Cappella Choir Fundraiser page 2 | UWF Annual Meeting page 2 | FCF Retreat page 2 | Called AC Session page 3 | Conference Treasurer’s Notes page 3 | Clergywomen’s Retreat page 4

October 2024

Photo courtesy Ole Miss Wesley

The Mississippi Conference Disaster Response Team is in constant contact with the United Methodist Committee on Relief, UMCOR, to learn how to best respond to our sisters and brothers impacted by Hurricanes Helene and Milton.

While the desire is to run out and be helpful, in trying to help it can do more harm. Click here to read UMCOR’s ways you can be most helpful.

New Vision for Student Engagement

Connection News Rust College Choir Selected for Competition in Italy The world-renowned Rust College A’Cappella Choir has been selected to participate in the 36th Annual International Verona Competition. The prestigious

Photo courtesy Rust College

competition takes place March 26-30, 2025, in Verona, Italy, and the Rust College A’Cappella Choir is the only choir from the United States participating. To take advantage of this once in a lifetime opportunity, the choir students will need the assistance of Mississippi Conference congregations. Read More

The Mississippi Conference United Women in Faith hosted their 36th annual meeting October 4-5 at Central United Methodist Church in Meridian. The theme of the conference was “Get Together-Love One Another.” The

United Women in Faith install conference officers at annual Meeting.

The Methodist Foundation of

conference featured inspired

Mississippi is here to help with your

worship services, a service project

end of the year

and installation of new officers. Click here to read more about the annual meeting.

Photo courtesy Jasmine Haynes

Methodist Foundation Assists with YearEnd Financial Planning

United Women in Faith Hold 36th Annual Meeting

giving and saving. is ready to assist with establishing trusts, endowments, legacy gifts, bequests and donoradvised funds (DAF). In addition, you can also take advantage of the new 5% interest rate on short-term savings accounts. Click here to read more about how the Methodist Foundation can help your end of the year saving and giving goals.

Bread Lesson Teaches Youth Meaning of Communion On the Saturday before World Communion Sunday, children gathered in the kitchen at Maples Memorial United Methodist Church in Olive Branch, photo right, to learn how to make bread. The bread making lesson would be used to teach the children about Communion, its significance and World Communion Sunday. Read More

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Photo courtesy Maples Memorial UMC

The foundation

Mississippi Conference News 2024 Called Annual Conference Session

Visit the Miss.

Conference Booth at the State Fair

The called annual conference session will be held virtually Tuesday, October 29. The purpose of the session will be to receive the report

Photo courtesy Matthew Johnson

and recommendations of the Implementation District Realignment Team, IDRT, and vote on reducing the number of districts in the Mississippi Conference from seven to five. Voting members can contact their district office to register. For more information on the called annual conference session, click here. For more details on the IDRT’s recommendation visit the realignment webpage here.

Bishop Sharma D. Lewis, left, Rev. Trey Jones and Rev. Dr. Jason Zebert share the love of Christ with fairgoers.

Treasurer’s Notes for October

The office of faith community formation

In his latest notes, conference treasurer,

is taking Jesus to the Mississippi State

David Stotts offers a few reminders

Fair. If you go to the fair, visit the

for congregations. November is open

Mississippi Conference booth inside the

enrollment for the conference health reminders about submitting clergy budget compensation forms and mandatory district meetings that will inform clergy and church administrators about Wespath’s new Compass retirement plan. Click here to read the latest notes from the

Mississippi Trade Mart. Volunteers will shutterstock.com

insurance plan. Stotts also offers

be on hand to give fairgoers information about Mississippi Conference missions and ministry in addition to offering prayer. Click here to see the dates when conference volunteers will be at the fair.

conference treasurer.

Faith Community Formation Sets Stage for Connection, Discipleship

FCF committee convenes at Eagle Ridge Conference Center. Photo courtesy of Jasmine Haynes

The Mississippi Conference Faith Community Formation

(FCF) staff and committee recently stepped away from their daily work and retreated to Eagle Ridge Conference Center in Raymond, Mississippi to acclimate new team members and create a common framework. During the retreat, attendees participated in team building, brainstorming and innovation around connecting faith communities to FCF resources. Click here to learn more about the two-day retreat.

October 2024 | The Circuit Rider Monthly Newsletter 3

Clergywomen’s Retreat

Mississippi Conference female clergy are invited to attend the

Clergywomen’s Retreat October 14-16 at Crossgates United Methodist Church in Brandon. Featured speakers will be Mississippis episcopal leader, Bishop Sharma D. Lewis and Rev. Dr. Joy Moore. The cost to attend is $75 and 1.5 CEUs will be available. Click here for more information on the retreat. Click here to watch a Clergywomen’s Retreat promotional video from Bishop Lewis.

SAVE THE DATES

Consider applying for a mission grant for

Festival of Preaching Online, Laity and Clergy – Oct. 21-22

last day to submit Mission Grant applications.

The Mississippi Conference Office of Spiritual Leadership is pleased to announce that the 2024 Virtual Festival of Preaching is now open to all the clergy and laity of the Mississippi Annual Conference October 21 and 22.

Spiritual leadership does not want anyone to miss the opportunity to share in the teaching of Rev. Dr. Joy Moore, so this event is being offered for free to all who wish to participate.

For more information and to register, click here.

Deadline to Submit Mission Grant Applications – Oct. 31

your church. Thursday, October 31 is the Mission Grants range from $250 to $5,000 and provide financial assistance to church initiatives that form spiritual leaders, develop new places for new people, renew existing congregations and engage in ministry with the poor. Only applications submitted online will be considered. Click here for more information and to apply.

All Saints Sunday – Nov. 3 All Saints Sunday is observed on the first

Benedictine Prayer Retreat – Nov. 13-16 The office of spiritual leadership invites Mississippi Conference clergy to a time away to focus on the discipline of prayer.

The Benedictine Prayer Retreat takes place November 13-16 at St. Bernard Abbey in Cullman, Alabama. The theme of the event is “I Thirst for You” and is based on Psalm 63:1. The cost to attend is $350 with 3.0 CEUs available, but hurry because only 24 slots are available. For more information and to register, click here.

Sunday in November. On All Saints Sunday, believers remember brothers and sisters in the faith who have joined the Church Triumphant. This year, All Saints Day is Sunday, November 3. Click here for All Saints

Need to strengthen or start a ministry for

Day worship resources you can use in your

which you have a vision but limited resources?

congregation.

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES As a courtesy to the Mississippi Annual Conference, job announcements from across the United Methodist connection are featured in The Circuit Rider. To submit an employment notice, send an email to news@mississippi-umc.org. Postings are not guaranteed to appear more than once in Mississippi Conference publications. To read a description of job opening(s) listed below as well as other listings, click here.

• Church Pianist | Morton UMC (Morton, MS) • Chief Financial Officer | Conference Office (Jackson, MS) • Director of Ministry with Children and Families | Belmont UMC (Nashville, TN) • Director of Youth Ministry | Church Street UMC (Knoxville, TN) • Sunday Morning Broadcast Audio/Visual Technician | Galloway UMC (Jackson, MS)

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CARES AND CONCERNS As you pause to pray this week, take time to ask for strength, peace and comfort for the families and friends of those listed below who have joined the Church Triumphant: • Rev. Johnny Crosby Jr. took his heavenly rest September 27.

• Francis Delmas, wife of Rev. James Delmas, passed away September 9.

• Rev. Franklin Burton went to be with the Lord on September 9.

• Mary Rutherford, wife of Rev. Hubert Rutherford took her eternal rest on September 6.