February 22, 2010
From the Desk of Bishop B. Michael Watson
Dear Monday Morning in North Georgia reader:
I need your help.
It is one of my goals this year to support the long-term viability of the North Georgia Advocate - our conference’s official print news source. This will not require a massive effort. I believe in the North Georgia Advocate. I am a proud subscriber. If you are too, I am sure you agree with me that it is a valuable resource. If you do not currently subscribe, I hope that you will purchase a subscription and discover the personal stories and important news of our conference.
We not only want to keep the newspaper in business for years to come, we want to see it flourish. The North Georgia Advocate is one of the best tools we have for sharing information across the conference. It is a great way for leaders in the church to keep up with news and events. It is also one of the best methods for sharing the news of your church. I believe that making more people aware of the North Georgia Advocate benefits all of us.
If you do not have a subscription to the Advocate, I am asking you to please subscribe. For only $25 a year, I firmly believe every United Methodist in North Georgia should be getting the North Georgia Advocate.
I have asked every pastor to have a subscription campaign in their church during the month of March. I have urged them to encourage staff members and lay leaders to subscribe. I have also encouraged them to promote the North Georgia Advocate in their congregations from the pulpit, in their church publications, and to use the bulletin inserts and other promotional materials provided for the campaign that can be found here.
The goal: If every pastor in the North Georgia Conference subscribes to the Advocate and each church simply adds at least five new subscriptions, we will put the newspaper on a more solid foundation for the foreseeable future. To help us reach our goal of five new subscriptions per congregation, you might consider purchasing or having your church purchase five additional copies of the North Georgia Advocate and making them available to key leaders. I am also asking all the District Superintendents to support me in this effort.
Our combined efforts can enable us to provide a top quality news source for United Methodists of North Georgia. It can also offer a source of funds for additional means of sharing the news of the Church across the conference and around the world.
Grace and peace,
B. Michael Watson
To subscribe online: visit our secure subscription webpage
To subscribe by phone: call 1-877-465-1685
To subscribe by mail: send a $25 check payable to the North Georgia Advocate to
P.O. Box 660275 - Dallas, TX 75266-0275
....................................................................................................................................................
How to Develop Tippers into Tithers
April 10 | 9:30am | The Lodge at Simpsonwood
Early registration: March 15
This workshop, offered by the North Georgia Conference Office of New Church Development and the Office of Connectional Ministries, is geared to pastors and 3 members of their finance and stewardship committees. Participants will: learn the principles in giving; re-think the motives for giving; re-think the stewardship letter; and will help people grow in their giving. The leader for this event will be Jim Griffith, founder of Griffith Coaching Network. For more information, contact Joanna Shurtz via email at jshurtz@ngumc.org.
....................................................................................................................................................
Upcoming Events this Week from the Conference Calendar
Tuesday, February 23
Atlanta Emory District Minister's Meeting
Atlanta Decatur Oxford District Children's Ministry Network Meeting
National Network of Church Developers Conference, Feb. 23-26
Thursday, February 25
Atlanta Emory District Leadership Team Meeting
Children's Ministry Network Planning Meeting
Northwest District Clergy Meetings
Older Adult Committee Meeting
Rome Carrollton District Finance Team Meeting
Friday, February 26
Spiritual Life Retreat I, Feb. 26-28
Saturday, February 27
Atlanta Emory District Habitat Build
Gainesville District Advanced Lay Speaking "Storytelling"
Workshop: Ministering to Job Seekers in Your Community
A Workshop on Methodism in Spanish
Sunday, February 28
2010 Homeless Offering
View Entire Conference Calendar
....................................................................................................................................................
Links of Interest
Subscribe to E-newsletters
Conference Employment Listings
Conference Resource Listings
North Georgia Advocate
Read the Bible in a Year
North Georgia Conference on Facebook
....................................................................................................................................................
Lectionary Scriptures for this Sunday
February 28, 2010
Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18
Psalm 27
Philippians 3:17-4:1
Luke 13:31-35 or Luke 9:28-36, (37-43)
....................................................................................................................................................
Helpful Worship Tools
Worship Planning Helps
Preaching Helps
Lectionary Hymns
21st Century Africana
