The LaGrange Link

A monthly publication of
The LaGrange District of the United Methodist Church

Rev. Susan Landry

District Superintendent February 2018

February: The Month of Love

Last week, in late January, your Appointive Cabinet of North Georgia spent several days at
Epworth by the Sea for the Cabinet Consultation—an annual event for the Cabinets of the
Southeast Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church.

Our own Bishop Sue preached the first night, where she shared her passion and perspective on
the direction of the Church Universal, and more specifically the direction of the UMC. She
acknowledged that we are walking in times that can bring about anxiety. However, we are a
people of faith, called to stand tall in our trust in God, in all things, with no need of fear.

I won’t try to write her sermon here, but wanted to share what I believe was the ‘heart’ of her
message, the root of her call to us as United Methodists in North Georgia. Bishop Sue said, it all
comes down to this: Perfection in love. It isn’t about being right or wrong—and who has time for
squabbling about non-central issues anyway? It is about all of us growing toward Perfection in
Love.

So in February, the month of Love, it seems the perfect time for all of us to ask ourselves… “Am
I moving toward Perfection in love?”

In less than perfect love,

Susan

Colossians 3:14 “Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together
in perfect harmony.”

Sunday, February 25
Homeless Offering

If your church has not received your material for this special offering,
please contact the District Office
Many Thanks from the District Office

for the following:

A BIG thank you to all of the 96 churches in the LaGrange District for
paying 100% of your 2017 District Work Fund!

Another big thank you to the following churches that also paid 100% of
their Conference Apportionments. The LaGrange District collected 95.73% of their
apportionments.
Allen Lee, Andrews Chapel, Arbor Chapel, Ayres Memorial, Bethel, Big Springs, Burks Chapel,
Burns, Caney Head, Carmel, Clark, Cokes Chapel, Corinth, Cornerstone, Dunson, Ebenezer,
Emory Chapel, Fayetteville First, Freeman Memorial, Grantville, Greenville, Haralson, Harmony -
Franklin, Harmony – LaGrange, Hartford, Heard Wesley, Hillcrest, Hogansville, Hopewell –
Tyrone, Hopewell – Whitesville, Inman, John Wesley, Jones Hill, Keeney Memorial, Korean
Church of Newnan, LaGrange First, Leete Hill, Long Cane, Louise, Lovejoy Memorial,
Luthersville, Manchester, Midway, Moreland, Mountville, Mt. Airy, Mt. Carmel, Mt Gilead –
Grantville, Mt. Gilead – Sharpsburg, Mt. Olive, Mt. Zion, New Hope, Newnan Chapel, Newnan
First, Odessadale, Peachtree City, Pine Mountain, Pleasant Grove, Powell, Providence, Raleigh,
Roe’s Chapel, Roopville, Rust Chapel, Salem, Senoia, Smith Chapel – Pine Mountain, Smith –
Newnan, St. James – Hogansville, St. Mary, St. Paul, Trinity on the Hill, Trinity – Durand, Turin,
Union Chapel, Union Springs, Warm Springs, Welcome, Wesley, West Point First, White Plains,
Whitesville, Wilson Chapel, and Woodbury.

Thank you to all members of the LaGrange District who supported our recent training event.
We had the largest crowd we have had in a number of years, with over 310 participating! We
are grateful for all who led workshops, including: Rev.
Scott Parrish, Rev. John Mattox, Rev. Debby Fox, Rev.
Susan Landry, Rev. Jairo Gay, Rev. Renee Clark, Rev. Kim
Evans, Mrs. Denise Wilson, Mr. Jim Davison, Mr. Derrick
Wilson, and Dr. Winston Worrell. On behalf of The United
Methodist Children’s Home, thank you to all the churches
who participated in the “Baby Shower for Jesus” and
brought diapers and wipes to the training. We collected
over 5000 diapers and over 8000 wipes, as well as 100
hand crocheted hats for newborns! Thank you to the
LaGrange First UMC for hosting the training event and for their excellent hospitality.

Thank you to the Fayetteville First UMC for hosting the recent Clergy Ethics training and all their
help in organizing that event.
¡que el Señor sonrisa sobre ti y traerle paz y gozo! "May the Lord bless you with peace and
joy!" The Bridge to El Salvador is growing because of God's blessing and your support! Because of the
growing interest and involvement of the people
of the LaGrange District with the people of El
Salvador and the bond of fellowship we have
formed with the Iglesia Evangelica Metodista en
El Salvador "the Evangelical Methodist Church
in El Salvador", we are offering a third district mission trip to El Salvador this year! Please pray about
your personal involvement in Bridge #3 scheduled for August 18 - 25, 2018, whether it be as a mission
team member or as a donor/sponsor for the team. If you are interested but have questions, please
contact the District Office to request a team to come to your church to talk with you about the mission
trip. Individual cost for one mission team member is approximately $1,500 for an 8-day trip, including
everything but your souvenirs and recreation expenses. There are seats available for the first 15 people
to respond. A deposit check of $100 to the District Office will reserve your seat on the trip. Get your
deposits in soon! Make your check payable to the LaGrange District Office. Enter "Bridge #3 deposit" on
the Memo Line. Provide your email address and phone number along with the deposit so we can
connect with you concerning team meetings and information. Send to: LaGrange District Office, 200
Church Street, LaGrange GA 30240.

Neither age nor physical limitations should discourage you from being a mission team member. There is
a place for everyone who feels called to engage in this ministry. You will be blessed and be the vessel of
many blessings! Dios te bendiga. "God bless you." The LaGrange District Bridge to El Salvador was
created as a part of the North Georgia UMC Conference's Bridges Initiative in 2012. The development of
the LaGrange District Bridge began with the vision of offering international
mission opportunities to smaller churches in the district. This vision quickly
grew into an active ministry that has blessed many individuals and churches
in the LaGrange District and in El Salvador. There are many ways you and
your church can support the LaGrange District Bridge to El Salvador:

- Pray for the Bridge, the mission team members, the churches involved, and
the people of El Salvador.
- Volunteer to serve as a mission team member.
- Include the Bridge to El Salvador in your church and individual giving plan.
- Give to the District Bridge general fund which helps offset costs of mission trips.
- Provide a financial scholarship to a mission team volunteer.
- Financially support the Volunteers in Missions coordinator Brian Dubberly.
- Financially support the General Board of Global Ministries missionary to El Salvador Ellyn Dubberly.
- Sponsor a child in El Salvador with a school scholarship to the Methodist School.
- Contribute to the new Methodist School building project.
- Contribute to special ministry opportunities of the Methodist Church in El Salvador.
- Financially support a local pastor in the Methodist Church in El Salvador.
- Provide materials and supplies for mission team projects.
Opportunities are limitless as are God's blessings for your faithful partnership with the LaGrange District
Bridge to El Salvador! Teams are ready to respond to an invitation to speak to your churches, mission
committees, and connection groups about the life-changing experiences found in international missions
and specifically the Bridge to El Salvador. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Rev.
Tommy Holder, district missions coordinator, at 678-633-0259 or tom.holder@ngumc.net.
Thank you to Rev. Scott Pickering and the District Statistician Team for all their work with
churches on End of Year Reports. They are currently finishing up the reviews of all the reports
and getting final updates completed. All churches are encouraged to go back and print a final
copy of their reports once the conference has input 2017 apportionment figures. These reports
will be available on the “End of Year” page of the conference website within the next day or so.
Team Members assisting Scott were Rev. Maria Bowers, Rev. Angie Crummie, Rev. Joe
Harrington, Rev. Beverly Casstevens and Rev. Deborah Holloway.

District Committee on Ordained Ministry

Meeting at Cornerstone UMC on Tuesday, February 27

Meeting with local pastors and new candidates for ministry

Detailed schedules have been emailed to participants

Black Methodists for Church Renewal North Georgia Lenten Revival

Sunday, Feb. 18 at Ben Hill UMC, 7pm – Rev. Brian Tillman, Revivalist
Sunday, Feb. 25 at Warren Temple UMC, LaGrange, 7pm – Rev. Susan Landry, Revivalist
Sunday, March 4 at Ben Hill UMC, 7pm – Rev. Carolyn Stephens, Revivalist
Sunday, March 11 at Ben Hill UMC, 7pm – Rev. Byron Thomas, Revivalist

Youth Worker Lunch Gathering

All those working with youth in the LaGrange District are invited to join together for lunch at
LaParilla in Newnan at 12 noon on Thursday, February 22.

Lay Servant Classes

The LaGrange District Board of Laity is sponsoring 3 lay servant classes on Thursdays, March 1,
8, 15 & 22 (6-9pm) at St. Mary UMC in Hogansville. Courses being offered included the Basic
Course, and advanced courses “Leading Worship” and “Leading in Prayer”. Registration
deadline is February 16. More information is available on the Lay Servant page of the district
website or by calling the district office.

Early Response Team Training

Saturday, March 3 at Cornerstone UMC
For more information, contact Rev. Scott Pickering at sdp2011@icloud.com
Spiritual Life Retreats
Upcoming SLR weekends focus on the I Am Third as the
theme for 2018
Wouldn't it be great to have a quality weekend retreat where you
could trust the content, spend time with your youth (instead of
worrying about the setup of the next session), and come back with
a group of youth and adults who are stronger and more capable
than when they left?
This year's Spiritual Life Retreats will strengthen your youth
ministry and allow you and your adult leaders some much-needed
quality time with your youth while our staff takes on the
responsibility of the setup, take down, and running of the weekend.
The theme of this year's Spiritual Life Retreats at Glisson Camping
and Retreat Center is I Am Third - helping your youth recognize that in all decisions and service, God
comes first, others are second, and... "I am third." It's necessary, if we are to follow Christ, that we have a
heart of service. Jesus taught those closest to him to serve one another; he declared that he came, not to
be served, but to serve others. In living that example as our teacher, we also must serve if we are to be
like him.
Spiritual Life Retreats happen every spring in North Georgia on three different weekends. Each year these
retreats attract more than 1000 youth and adult leaders from all over the North Georgia Conference. The three
weekends in 2018 (March 2-4, March 9-11, and March 16-18) are identical in content, though the bands
and speakers change each weekend. Groups can register for any weekend and be assured of a quality
retreat designed with the purpose of enriching the opportunities of spiritual growth for its participants and
making your church ministry thrive. The retreats are designed and led by other youth and adult leaders in
the conference, offering another level of leadership development to youth in the conference.
Cost for a weekend is $145 per person, but if you register and pay by January 15, 2018, you can save
$20 per person. That covers four meals, lodging for two nights, all program costs, a t-shirt, some training
opportunities for your team of adults, and an amazing time with your group. We'll also send you a copy of
the curriculum early so you can see what your youth will be discussing this year in their small groups.
Two weekends are already full, but you can get information below on the only available weekend:
March 9-11 Weekend 2 (Speaker: Nathan Dickens, Director of University of North Georgia Wesley
Foundation; Band: UNG Wesley Band)
Questions about SLR? Contact Sam Halverson at 678-533-1445 or Hannah Stubblefield at 770-974-
3312

What do I need to know?

 What to Bring
 Retreat Cancellation Policy
 Important Paperwork
 Directions
 Schedule
Retired Clergy Invited to Spring Day Apart with Bishop Sue

North Georgia Conference retired clergy are invited to a Spring Day Apart with Bishop Sue Haupert-
Johnson. The event will be March 27 at Glisson Camp and Retreat Center. This will be time for
retirees to see spring come to life at our camp and retreat center in the beautiful mountains of North
Georgia.

Cost is $15 per person and includes activities, lunch in the new
dining hall, and bus transportation for those who would like to
travel together. Busses will depart from the following areas:

Decatur - Oak Grove UMC

Griffin - McDonough First UMC
LaGrange/South Atlanta - Jonesboro First UMC
Athens - Athens First UMC
Covington/Augusta - Covington First UMC

The Day Apart begins at 10:30 a.m. and concludes with transportation departing at 3:15 p.m.
Spouses or friends are welcome. Retirees and their guests must register and pay online to attend.

Register at https://www.eiseverywhere.com/ereg/index.php?eventid=290390&

Clergy Day Apart With Bishop Sue

Tuesday, April 10 @ Impact UMC, 2323 Sylvan Road, East Point

Tuesday, April 17 @ Dunwoody UMC, 1548 Mt. Vernon Road, Dunwoody

North Georgia Conference clergy are invited to a day apart with Bishop Sue. Choose between
Tuesday, April 10 or Tuesday, April 17.
To prepare clergy should read and study two books:

 The Anatomy of Peace: Resolving the Heart of Conflict

Author: Arbinger Institute
Publisher: Ingram Publisher Services
 Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High
Author: Ron McMillan, Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny
Publisher: McGraw Hill Book Co.

Cost is $10 per person.

Register Here
Bishop’s Scouting Lunch
Saturday, April 28 at 11:30am at Peachtree Road UMC
For pastors and key leaders of churches (Church Council Chair, UMM President, Youth Minister,
Scouting Coordinator)
RSVP to jcarsonccc@aol.com with names of all attending by April 13
There is no charge for this event.

Purpose: to help participants learn more about the scouting programs (which includes Boy
Scouts, Girl Scouts, and Big Brothers/Big Sisters) and how they can be used beneficially by our
churches to serve the children, youth and families in our communities.

VBS - Kids Helping Kids

Consider The United Methodist Children's Home as your church prepares for Vacation
Bible School (VBS) this summer. We offer two free and fun ways to teach children about
The Children's Home and about being the hands and feet of Christ:

1. The Kids Helping Kids VBS Mission Kit works with any VBS theme and gives your
children a hands on way to help other children from right here in North Georgia. Simply
incorporate it into the Mission Moment or Mission Room at VBS.
2. The Kids Helping Kids Lesson Guide can be used for any gathering of children and/or
youth. It includes a Bible lesson, stories from The Children’s Home, some hands-on
activities and ways to get involved.

Visit http://bit.ly/UMCHVBS for more details and to obtain the Kids Helping Kids VBS
Mission Kit and Lesson Guide.
Job Opportunities:
Part-Time Warehouse Coordinator
North Georgia Conference seeks a part-time warehouse coordinator for our disaster response
efforts. The Impact warehouse at 2323 Sylvan Road, Atlanta, will be open Tuesday and Thursday of
most weeks from 10am-3pm and one Saturday per month.

The warehouse coordinator will be responsible for effective temporary warehousing of UMCOR
supplies, coordinating with churches for drop off, directing volunteers, & working with UMCOR for
transport. The position requires experience in effective and safe warehouse procedures. Also, strong
communication skills will be necessary for the coordinator in working with the conference disaster
response team, North Georgia churches and conference leaders, and UMCOR in order to create an
efficient collection and distribution system.

Please send cover letter and resume to Rev. Scott Parrish at scott.parrish@ngumc.net along with
the application linked as an "Attached File" below.
Contact: Rev. Scott Parrish
Address: Atlanta GA
Email: scott.parrish@ngumc.net
Attached file(s): view file

The O. Wayne Rollins, Director of Pastoral Care

Wesley Woods is seeking applications for the O. Wayne Rollins Director of Pastoral Care. Below are
details about Wesley Woods and the position we wish to fill.
Since 1954, Wesley Woods has provided housing and services to older adults. Annually, Wesley Woods
serves over 1,800 older adults in 10 communities across North Georgia to a broad spectrum of
individuals. We support and empower older adults to age with grace.
The O. Wayne Rollins Director of Pastoral Care will report to the President and CEO of Wesley Woods
Senior Living and be a part of the executive leadership team. Managing an initial staff of 2.5 full time
Chaplains that will expand to fill the need within each of our communities, the Director of Pastoral Care
will develop and implement a robust program that consistently delivers quality pastoral care, critical to
our resident’s well-being and spiritual health, to each of our Wesley Woods’ communities. The
development of this program will require creativity to ensure the most effective delivery models of care,
strategic cultivation of church partners and volunteers, and a passion for older adults.
This is an exceptional opportunity for an entrepreneurial, creative leader to build a first of its kind
program in Georgia while impacting the lives of those in need.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Terry Barcroft President & CEO, Wesley Woods Senior Living terry.barcroft@wesleywoods.org | (404)
728-6232
Traci Montgomery
Director of Human Resources, Wesley Woods Senior Living
traci.montgomery@wesleywoods.org | (404) 728-6858
Feb. 17-24 – District Mission Team in El Salvador
Feb. 19 – District Office Closed for President’s Day
Feb. 19-20 – Cabinet Meeting
Feb. 22 – Youth Worker Lunch, LaParilla, Newnan, 12 noon
Feb. 24 – District UMW Lenten Day Apart, Greenville UMC
Feb. 25 – BMCR Lenten Revival, Warren Temple, 7:00pm
Feb. 27 – DCOM meeting with local pastors, Cornerstone UMC, 3:30-7:30
Mar. 1 – District Strategic Growth Committee meeting, Peachtree City UMC, 10am

Happy Birthday to the following ministers in the district who are

celebrating birthdays in February:

2 - Melanie Reeves 9 - Shannon Karafanda

3 - Alpheia Murray 19 – Joshua Daniel
8 - Bob Tobias 24 – Ashley Jenkins

Please visit our district website at www.ngumc.org/lagr where you will find even more
information about district and conference activities. And “Like” us on Facebook! (The
LaGrange District)

You are welcome to post videos or information about events at your church on our
Facebook page.