News in brief
UM healthcare agency urges senators to restore CHIP
Final signup date nears for May youth choir event
First UMC, Hondo, to mark sesquicentennial May 6
May 8 workshop in Austin eyes prophetic preaching
Circuit rider’s descendents gather May 5 for reunion
Registration deadline nears for June 7 UMW luncheon
Kids can begin signing up for June summer camps
Church campaign sends phone cards to soldiers
Bishop Christopher Jokomo of Zimbabwe dies at 64
Volunteer pages, marshals needed at 2008 assembly
Men’s commission issues DVD to aid scouting efforts
UM healthcare agency urges senators to restore CHIP
Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas urged state senators April 19 to reach a swift compromise on Children’s Health Insurance Program eligibility.
Representatives of Methodist Healthcare Ministries, Texas Impact and other faith groups delivered nearly 10,000 postcards to Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, president of the Texas Senate, in Austin. The postcards, signed by members of faith communities throughout Texas, called for restoration of CHIP.
“The fate of CHIP reform and access to healthcare for tens of thousands of kids lies entirely with the Senate at this point,” said Bee Moorhead, executive director of Texas Impact, an interfaith advocacy group. “The House has passed legislation and backed it up with dollars in the budget.”
Final signup date nears for May youth choir event
Monday is the final registration deadline for the 46th annual Youth Choir Rally next month.
First UMC, Seguin, is playing host to the May 4-6 event.
Pepper Choplin, minister of music at Greystone Baptist Church, Raleigh, N.C., is featured clinician.
For information contact Katie Arnold at soon2wed@aol.com or (830) 822-2030.
First UMC, Hondo, to mark sesquicentennial May 6
Members of First UMC, Hondo, are to celebrate their congregation’s 150th anniversary May 6.
Activities, which run from 8:30 a.m. through 2:30 p.m., include two “walk down memory lane” programs, historic displays, a heritage PowerPoint presentation, hymn sing led by Henry Holloway, reception for former pastors and members, and a barbecue lunch. Theme for the day is “I love to tell the story.”
Kerrville District Superintendent Fred Martin and Pastor Andy Tyson are to lead a sesquicentennial worship service at 10:45 a.m.
May 8 workshop in Austin eyes prophetic preaching
Pastors and seminary students can study prophetic preaching techniques May 8 in Austin.
Bishop Peter Storey, former president of the Methodist Church of Southern Africa, is leading an intensive workshop titled “Gospel, Truth and Power: Preaching in the Prophetic Tradition.” The session runs from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at First UMC, Austin.
Storey is to lead a public worship service following the workshop at 4:30 p.m. at First UMC.
Storey was active in the struggle against apartheid in South Africa and served on President Nelson Mandela’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
Workshop registration fee is $25 per person. Continuing education credit is available from Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary. The seminary, Austin District Amos Commission and Texas Impact are sponsoring the workshop.
For registration contact Cindy at (512) 478-5684, Extension 206, or registration@ amoscommission.org.
Circuit rider’s descendents gather May 5 for reunion
Descendants and friends of a Methodist circuit rider are to gather May 5 at Polly’s Chapel near Pipe Creek in Bandera County.
Registration for the Jose Policarpio Rodriguez family reunion begins at 10 a.m. A service in the chapel is set for 11 a.m. Lunch and a historic presentation are to follow.
Policarpio, who lived from 1829 to 1914, was a Methodist preacher, Texas Ranger, Army scout and rancher. He reportedly built the chapel of native stone with his own hands in 1882.
Registration deadline nears for June 7 UMW luncheon
May 15 is the registration deadline for the UM Women luncheon at the Southwest Texas Annual Conference session in Corpus Christi.
The gathering is planned for 12:15 p.m. June 7 at American Bank Center. Cost is $15 per person.
Theme for the event is “Sharing Our Story: I am a United Methodist Woman.”
For information contact Dianne Rumfield at (361) 937-5200 or ldordianne@aol.com.
Kids can begin signing up for June summer camps
Youngsters can sign up now for UM summer camps in Kerrville.
June 1 is the registration deadline for the third and fourth grade camp. It is scheduled for June 17 to 20 at Mount Wesley Conference Center. Fee is $175 per person.
June 8 is the registration deadline for the fifth and sixth grade camp. It is to run June 24 to 28 at Mount Wesley. Registration fee is $226 per person.
No late registrations will be accepted.
The Council on Children’s Ministry sponsors both camps. For information call the registrar at (888) 349-4191 or (210) 408-4500.
Church campaign sends phone cards to soldiers
MANDEVILLE, La.—A UM congregation in Louisiana plans to bring U.S. soldiers in the Middle East a bit closer to home.
St. Timothy on the North Shore UMC, Mandeville, collected $10,700 during March for phone cards. The church intends to purchase 2,140 cards—almost triple its goal.
Meanwhile, the children of the church made hundreds of greeting cards to send to UM military chaplains for distribution to service members along with the phone cards.
The UM Endorsing Agency of the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry started the phone card campaign on Veterans Day 2003 to pay for long-distance telephone minutes to help military families stay in touch with each other.
Bishop Christopher Jokomo of Zimbabwe dies at 64
HARARE, Zimbabwe—Bishop Christopher Jokomo, 64, former leader of the UMC in Zimbabwe, died April 7 at his home. His funeral was April 11.
Jokomo was elected to the episcopacy by the Africa Central Conference in 1992 and became bishop for life upon his re-election four years later. He served the Zimbabwe Episcopal Area until retiring in 2004 because of health problems that included a stroke in 2001.
Volunteer pages, marshals needed at 2008 assembly
FORT WORTH—Volunteers are being sought to serve as marshals or pages at the General Conference April 23 to May 2, 2008, in Fort Worth.
The denomination’s top legislative body depends on volunteers—especially marshals and pages—for everything from assisting disabled delegates to distributing documents.
Marshals and pages travel to and work at the conference at their own expense. Volunteers may apply online at the General Conference Web site by going to http://gc2008.umc.org and clicking Online Marshals/Pages Application.
Applications must be submitted by July 31, and applicants will be notified of their status by Sept. 30.
Men’s commission issues DVD to aid scouting efforts
NASHVILLE, Tenn.—A free DVD to help congregations develop or expand scouting ministries is available from UM Men or through the Boy Scouts of America.
United Methodist Scouting Ministries: Introductory Training for Church and Scouting Professionals and Volunteers is a 75-minute video covering topics including how to transform a local church scouting program into a ministry.
The DVD is based on the Scouting Ministry Training Manual, published by the National Association of UM Scouters, an affiliate of the General Commission on UM Men. To receive a copy by mail, call (866) 297-4312.
There is a $10 charge for shipping and handling.