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Save 15% on products for children & youth (EcuFilm, expires Jun. 8)

Save 15% on products for children and youth View as Web Page

Save 15% on products for children and youth We have family-friendly studies that immerse young people in the fun and exciting world of Christianity. Save 15% on resources for children and youth at the EcuFilm e-store through June 8, 2012.  Get resources proven to engage, entertain, and educate children and young adults. Just use promo code EF15CYMAY12 (all caps) during check-out. Some of our newest products for children and youth include: Read and Share Bible Curriculum Each 13-week curriculum walks children through the Bible with minimal preparation time for teachers. It includes teacher cue cards, 3-D animated video clips on DVD, two puppets along with puppet skit book and prerecorded audio, and music CD and resource CD-ROM.  • Unit 1: Genesis through the story of Joseph.  • Unit 2: Moses, Gideon, Samson, Ruth and Naomi, Hannah and Samuel Adventures in Booga Booga Land Based on the Parables of Jesus, join Marty the monkey and Gerard the giraffe as they bungle their way through the paradise of Booga Booga Land, inadvertently learning lessons that Jesus taught many years ago. • Volume 1 • Squid Sushi Loses His Marble • The Booga Bolter Dark and Disturbing Stories from the Bible Youth face moral and ethical issues that, to their surprise, were just as relevant in Bible times as they are today. Use this resource to empower youth to make God-honoring choices in a PG-13 world. Order now >> 2012 EcuFilm Digital Catalog 2012 EcuFilm Catalog Take a look at some of our newest videos. Please visit our e-store or browse through our new 2012 EcuFilm Digital Catalog to see what we have to offer. With the digital catalog, you can: • Flip pages as if you are holding the catalog. • Jump to a specific page using the “contents” tab. • Leap to a store product page by clicking on the resource’s image or product number. Shop by category On Sale New Resources Audience Theme Catalogs Please visit the children and youth sections in our e-store to see additional resources eligible for 15% off using promo code EF15CYMAY12. Blessings, Alison Worden EcuFilm Marketing Coordinator http://www.ecufilm.org/ | Privacy Policy | Contact Us Please go here to start your own account: EcuFilm Subscriber Form EcuFilm: 810 12th Ave. S., Nashville, TN 37203

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Six steps to a generous life: stewardship resources for 2012 (from TNUMConnects 12/14/11)

Written by Bob Crossman, Dir. of New Church Leadership Institute for the Arkansas Conference, Abingdon Press unveils their 2012 stewardship program for the United Methodist Church Committed to Christ: Six Steps to a Generous Life.

Several contributors submitted stories to help illuminate the six commitments including: Ed Stetzer, Ric Bezet, Jim Moore, Olu Brown, Bishop Scott Jones, Bob Pierson, and Bishop Minerva Carcano. The forward is by Clif Christopher, author of This is Not Your Parents Offering Plate and Whose Offering Plate is It?

This six-week campaign includes a kickoff Sunday and six weeks of sermons, worship, study, and devotions around the six commitments of Christian discipleship: prayer, Bible reading, worship, service, financial giving, and witness.  
 
This program was originally designed as a comprehensive annual discipleship program for the new church I had planted just down the street from Ric Bezet and New Life Church in Conway, Arkansas.

A preview book, Six Steps to a Generous Life: Living Your Commitment to Christ will be available in January at the Congress on Evangelism. The full boxed kit, Committed to Christ: Six Steps to a Generous Life will be released in April at General Conference and will be available at Cokesbury Bookstores in May.

The kit contains the Program Guide with CD-Rom, Adult Readings and Study Book, Small Group Leaders Guide, DVD of worship loops, and suggested blogs, Facebook and twitter prayers.

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2012 UMC Calendars (from UMCom)

View all Calendars View as Web Page 2012 United Methodist Program Calendars 2012 is almost here! Start noting your activities to plan, meetings to attend or projects to coordinate. Let the Official United Methodist 2012 Program Calendar guide your ministry year, from planning to implementation. Available in several formats, these calendars offer the fastest, easiest way to keep track of events and projects. The calendar is a valuable time-management and organizational tool for anyone who commits service and time to the ministries of the church. Order now! Wall Calendar e-Calendar Desk Blotter Special Features A checklist of events and special observances along with what groups to include in the planning and where to order resources  (See how it looks.) Special Sundays, holidays, lectionary readings and liturgical colors (View image.)   A complete planning calendar for 2013, including every month’s special observances A new section about tools from United Methodist Communications to help raise your church’s profile, giving and engagement within your congregation and your community. Choose your favorite from several convenient designs, print or electronic. The Wall calendar allows you to post activities for all to see. Each page displays three months at a time. You can synchronize the e-calendar with your computer or handheld device. Visit www.umcom.org/calendars. Order yours today. For assistance, please call customer service, 888-346-3862. Many blessings in your ministry now and always, Letty LaFontaine Strategic Marketing Manager The Official United Methodist 2012 Program Calendar P.S. Pastors and lay leaders can get free subscriptions to Interpreter magazine. To enroll your church online, visit www.umcom.org/subscriptions.  www.umcom.org | Privacy Policy | Contact Us    United Methodist Communications: 810 12th Ave. S., Nashville, TN 37203

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Media Crisis Response Procedures (from TN UMC)

A Media Crisis in the Tennessee Conference is: An event or emergency associated in some way with the Church but beyond its control, which can be expected to become public.  It presents potential for damage to individuals, or the image of the Church, and hinders the ability to be in ministry. In other words, a media crisis is anything that could cause the public to lose faith in Tennessee Conference leadership or in the United Methodist Church.

> DOWNLOAD Media Crisis Response Procedures (.pdf)

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Ministerial Education Fund (from UMC Giving)

Watch videos about students your gifts support View as Web Page UMC Giving Facebook

Ministerial Education Fund   Effective Ministry In Action Five years ago, Centenary United Methodist Church in Macon, Ga., was on the brink of closing. Its once glorious and vibrant neighborhood had declined, and attendance at worship services had dwindled to 30. Rather than abandon hope, members decided to stay and make Centenary an outpost of Jesus’ love in their community. Joining the church to lead the revitalization were Candler alumni Tim Bagwell, M. Div. ’78; Helen Willoughby, M. Div. ’98 (out ministering on picture day!), and Stacey Harwell, M. Div. ’10. Today, with more than 200 members, a thriving Centenary United Methodist Church is starting a grocery cooperative, offering on-site computer classes, and partnering with local businesses. Centenary is growing by embracing the community rather than insulating itself from it. Candler School of Theology is one of 13 seminaries supported by the Ministerial Education Fund apportionment. Your support of the Ministerial Education Fund prepares emerging leadership for the church and provides ordained leaders who are passionate about sharing God’s gifts with the world. Pastors, teachers, evangelists, missionaries, chaplains and lay leaders depend on your support.     www.umcgiving.org  |  Privacy Policy |  Contact Us United Methodist Communications, 810 12th Ave S., Nashville, TN 37203 View Web Version of this Message

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General resources for all leaders (from TNUMConnects 8/10/11)

Below are articles, downloads and links for your ministry on congregational committees. Check out other content on the Helpful Materials page at TNUMC.org for more from GBOD. The materials below are provided by GBOD. To see the original article in its entirety on their website, please CLICK HERE.



Changing Pastors
    •    Fifty Ways to Welcome Your new Pastor
    •    Lewis Center Resources for Pastoral Transition 
Also, see below under Pastor Parish Relations Committee

Devotionals, Bible Study, Prayers
    •    A Pattern for opening meetings using the Upper Room Daily Devotional
    •    Find a devotional appropriate for your committee
    •    A reflection for changing pastors
    •    Leaders as spiritual model for others: an article and discussion
    •    Ideas for increasing congregational prayer
    •    Teaching People to Pray: an article for leaders to discuss
    •    Building congregational Biblical Literacy
    •    Living an Easter Faith: leader discussion

First Priority: Growing in Faith
    •    A check list for keeping membership vows
    •    Make prayer requests
    •    Walking Prayer

Leading Meetings
    •    Leading through Conflict
    •    booklet: What Every Leader Needs to Know About Leading Meetings
    •    What is Christian Conferencing?

Summertime Discipleship
    •    Support family summer schedules and travels
    •    48 ideas for older adult ministry in the summer time
    •    Ideas for increasing summer worship attendance
    •    Summer ministry for all
 

This article was featured in the TN Conference weekly eBlast TNUMConnects. FREE to your INBOX weekly!
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Resources for Finance Committee (from GBOD)

The GBOD stewardship area has offertory prayers, budgeting help, information for personal stewardship and more. There are links to job descriptions for financial secretary, treasurer, and finance committee.

    •    Budgeting for discipleship: an article and discussion for finance committee
 

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Resources for PPR Committees and Trustees (from GBOD)

The materials below are provided by GBOD. To see the original article in its entirety on their website, please CLICK HERE.




PASTOR PARISH RELATIONS COMMITTEE
Appointed Staff
    •    Clergy Appointment Press Release (external)
    •    Clergy Appointment Press Release (internal)
    •    Comprehensive Guide for Moving
 (Ex: East Ohio. Some info will need to be adjusted for your conference.)

Clergy Well Being: Family & Health
    •    Clergy Health Initiative: lots of good ideas!
    •    Clergy Family and Spouse study
    •    Wisconsin Conference has developed tools for clergy goal setting, personal reflection and more

Church Policy
    •    A sample policy developed by a church in the Dakotas conference. Always check with local experts for legal, financial and conference policies which supersede a general policy.
    •    A checklist for policy

Hired Staff
    •    Tips for Welcoming a New Staff Person
    •    Announcing a new hired staff (internal press release)
    •    Book of Discipline and non-appointed staff
    •    Steps into Laity leadership
    •    Guidelines for Developing Church Job Descriptions
    •    Budgeting for staff: an article and discussion for PPRC
 

TRUSTEES
    •    Brief job description for trustees
    •    Materials trustees need: a list
    •    Children's safety: short article and discussion questions for trustees
 

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