Southeast District News [link removed]
[link removed] Southeast District →
The Southeast District is announcing the upcoming retirement of Rev. Dr. Bruce Baxter, the District Superintendent. Bruce will be retiring June 30, 2024 and will have served in this position for 7 years.
“I have known Bruce since our church planting days. He has done great ministry as a local pastor, church developer and District Superintendent,” said Bishop Farr. “We will miss his wisdom from the Cabinet.”
Conference Superintendent Jon Thompson will be appointed as the next Southeast District superintendent.
Super Bowl Challenge
The Kansas City Chiefs are playing in their second-consecutive Super Bowl and their fourth in the past five years. While we love seeing the Lombardi trophy raised by players wearing red, white and gold, we love even more when we can serve Christ by feeding the hungry.
UMC annual conferences in the United States have an opportunity once again score a victory against hunger.
Bishop David Wilson of the Great Plains Conference and Bishop Bob Farr of the Missouri Conference have teamed up to invite colleagues in the California-Nevada, California-Pacific and Oregon-Idaho conferences to a friendly competition to see which team's fans can collect the most food for food pantries in their mission fields.
During the time of last year's Super Bowl, the Great Plains and Missouri combined to collect 105,367 pounds of food. Our friends in the Greater New Jersey and Eastern Pennsylvania conferences overcame the loss by their beloved Eagles to gather 74,560 pounds of food. The goal for Kansas City fans is to collect even more than last year's amount!
So let's get the word out to our congregations to bring nonperishable food items with them to church or another designated drop-off point through Thursday, Feb. 15, the week after the Super Bowl. Churches can decide for themselves to which food pantry they want to donate the food. It could be their own food pantry or another that operates within their communities.
But before you drop off the food, make sure you weigh it! And by the end of the day Thursday, Feb. 15, please have someone from your church fill in this simple form: [link removed] [link removed].
Churches with multiple locations can choose either to submit on a single form by adding the weight together or can submit individually. We just ask that you take steps to ensure you aren't double-counted in the total. The bishops are pondering a friendly wager. Last year, our Great Plains and Missouri bishops won Philly cheesesteaks and TastyCakes, but we went ahead and sent along some Kansas City barbecue to our friends in the Philadelphia area. Either Kansas City or San Francisco will win the Super Bowl, but together we can score at least one victory against hunger in the communities we serve.
Good luck!
Southeast District Grants
Deadline March 1st
The Southeast District is offering ministry grants to any United Methodist church or affiliated organization in the district boundaries.
• Priority will be given to organizations that have not previously received a grant.
• Priority will be given to Conference initiatives listed below.
New Places for New People (NPNP) -New or growing Alpha programs.
Next Generation Ministries - (birth-college age) New program that multiplies Next Gen Ministries in the local church.
Raise up Missional Leaders – training or an experience to recruit, train or disciple missional leaders engaged in the congregation.
Details can be found in the Grant Application here:
• Spring Grants are due by March 1st. All applicants will be notified by April 1st.
• Fall Grants are due by August 1st. All applicants will be notified by September 1st.
[link removed] More info and Apply Here →
Empowered to Thrive with Rebekah Simon-Peter
Register by February 16
Join Rebekah Simon-Peter, your coach and guide, for a three-part virtual workshop on transforming your ministry into one that thrives. You’ll learn how to identify and harness the gifts and talents already in your congregation to become a hopeful post-pandemic church. This experience has been specially crafted for small- and medium-sized churches. Register by Feb. 16 at [link removed] www.moumethodist.org/eventdetail/empowered-to-thrive-rebekah-simon-peter-18185316
Jump Start Workshop on Mission, Service and Justice
Does your missions ministry feel stuck? Join us for a Jump Start workshop on Feb. 20. Together we’ll consider local church mission, service and justice ministry and new ideas for reaching your community. You’ll leave with practical advice and solutions that can be immediately implemented in your context. Register by Feb. 14 at [link removed] www.moumethodist.org/eventdetail/jumpstart-missions-workshop-17516240
Church Seeking Handbells
Grace UMC in Sullivan is looking to purchase handbells and handchimes that other congregations are no longer using.
If you have any handbells or handchimes you are interested in selling, please contact Rev. Susan Youmans at
[email protected] or call the church at (573) 468-6010.
Mental Health Training with Dr. Chinwé Williams
Join us on March 16 for a mental health training designed for NextGen leaders and volunteers. Together we’ll learn to navigate the mental health challenges Gen Z is facing and discover practical strategies for providing support. You’ll leave feeling equipped to face the mental health challenges you encounter in your ministry. Use the code MENTALHEALTH to save $5 on your registration fee.
www.moumethodist.org/!C4XOSIkh+-J2iAAoBvs35sGQlM7W4yVVL3JtFPsM1y+xNQIHz9ITZihZcUVXwdGS0 Sign Up Now →
Stay Connected with the Missouri Conference
As Annual Conference draws near, we want to make sure you stay informed of the exciting opportunities the Missouri Annual Conference is offering.
[link removed] Follow the Missouri Conference →
MOAC Award Nominations Due February 15
Every year the Missouri Annual Conference celebrates and honors the ministry of churches and United Methodists across the state through the MOAC Awards. You’re invited to nominate an individual or church for their work in mission, discipleship, evangelism, or inclusiveness, justice and worth. Learn more at [link removed] www.moumethodist.org/moac-awards?utm_source=email&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=netnews
NEW ABSORB COURSES AVAILABLE
New classes are available on [link removed] Absorb! Missouri Conference members, you can take Faith Sharing, Congregational Care and Strategic Ministry Planning for FREE, at your own pace, on our online learning platform.
[link removed] Register Here →
Online Polity Course - Wednesdays 7-8:30 p.m.
Feb. 28 - March 20
Have you ever wondered how this movement of Methodism started, how and why we do what we do and how we do it, at the local, district and Conference level? This class unpacks the history of Methodism, along with why we believe what we believe, and the “how’s and why’s” of why we are organized the way we are. This is a great class for all laity to understand who the people called Methodists really are. The four-week online class will be taught by Rev. Steve Jones (Camdenton UMC). Learn more and register by Feb. 18 at [link removed] www.moumethodist.org/eventdetail/polity-online-24-18180257
Host an Intern in Summer 2024
Applications are open for summer local church internships. Interns get hands-on ministry experience and discover how their gifts and talents can be leveraged in the Church. Host churches provide this formational opportunity for young UMC leaders.
[link removed] Learn More and Apply Here →
Free 2024 Lent Materials
The 2024 Lent materials from UMC Discipleship Ministries are now available. Download FREE graphics, sermon starters, small group guides and more on the theme the Depths of Love.
[link removed] Learn more and Download Here →
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Southeast District of the Missouri Annual Conference
6 North Clark St., Cape Girardeau, Missouri, 63701
(573) 334-8723
southeast.moumethodist.org southeast.moumethodist.org
