The General Meeting of the Metro District Lay Speaking Ministries is scheduled for Saturday, December 10, 2011. The meeting will be held at Community UMC. An executive meeting will be held at 9:30 a.m. The general meeting will follow at 10:15 until approximately 11:45 a.m. Officers are required to attend the executive meeting. All District Lay Speakers are asked to attend the general meeting.
Peace be with you.
Tyndale House Publishers is having an NLT Facebook page giveaway. Here are the details:
Starting on November 29th until December 24th at the New Living Translation Facebook page Tyndale is giving away lots of great prizes and something free for you just for singing up.
By visiting the giveaway entry page (located on the NLT Facebook page, the link is under the profile picture) and entering your name and e-mail address you’ll be entered to win the following prizes:
One random person each day will win a Life Application Study Bible Family Pack (Guys Life Application Study Bible hc, Girls Life Application Study Bible hc, Student’s Life Application Study Bible hc, Life Application Study Bible hc, Life Application Study Bible Large Print hc).
One Random person each week will win an Apple iPad 2!
Everyone that signs up gets a free download copy of the Life Application Bible Study – Book of Luke!
Good luck!
Peace be with you.
Here are the upcoming courses from BeADisciple.com beginning in January which have been approved by the General Board of Discipleship as advanced courses in Lay Speaking Ministries.
Multimedia Technology in Worship for the Church Volunteer 101
Leading Worship 101 for Lay People
Growing Spiritually through Daily Discipline
Additionally, here are the courses that, while not approved for LSM, may serve to advance your own spiritual journey or assist in your ministry.
Exploring a Postmodern Gospel — January 2-27, 2012
Led by IFD instructor and author, Jonathan Brink, this 4 week course will explore a postmodern understanding of the Gospel.
The Practice of Love — January 2-27, 2012
This 4-week workshop led by Jonathan Brink is designed to create a space for each participant to engage the words of Jesus in a very practical way.
Safe Sanctuary Training for Workers with Children and Youth — January 6-22, 2012
This is a two-week online workshop for those who work with children and youth – Sunday School teachers, youth group leaders, van drivers, nursery volunteers, day care staff, VBS helpers, etc. and is particularly aimed at those who cannot attend the mandatory annual training at their local church OR those who are in small churches where it is impractical to hold a annual training session for just one or two people.
Disciple Making 101 — January 9 to February 13, 2012
This workshop offers a specific, step by step plan of spiritual formation. Participants will learn practical spiritual disciplines based on the Great Commission that operate in pre-venient as well as sanctifying grace to develop Christians into better disciples and then disciple makers.
Uncensored Prayer: The Spiritual Practice of Wrestling with God — January 9 to February 10, 2012
This course is about the spiritual practice of discussing everything with God, risking honesty to gain intimacy through loving, trusting conversations.
Freedom of Simplicity — January 9 to March 9, 2012
Using the book Freedom of Simplicity by Richard Foster, participants will explore together what simplicity might mean for each and how to cultivate inner and outer aspects of this delightful spiritual practice.
Peace be with you.
From Kathy Corley, Northwest District LSM Director:
Thanksgiving week is quickly upon us. From now until Christmas, we will all be very busy people preparing for Christmas. Knowing that, I am attaching a card [found here] that can be printed out to help remind us that on Saturday, January 7th, the Lay Speakers of Northwest District will meet at First UMC in Nocona at 10 a.m. to celebrate our organization. When you print out the card, there will be three other cards that you can share with your pastor or a member of your church that you feel led to invite.
There will be several Lay Speakers who will share their ministry stories, a pastor who will share his beginning in Lay Speaking, and our District Supervisor at the meeting. The NW District LSM has money enough to provide the meat for the meal following the morning service, if you will bring a vegetable or dessert, we will celebrate as the early disciples did, by communing together.
I will send more information before Christmas.
May God Bless your Thanksgiving, as we celebrate what he has given us. Happy Thanksgiving!
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Peace be with you.
Leslie Maynard
From Leslie Maynard, North Central District LSM Director:
Hi everyone – times are busy for all of us but I really need for you to attend this quarterly meeting Nov. 19th at 10:00 am . Location is Vista Ridge UMC. It is just West of I35 at 2901 Denton Tap Road, Lewisville, TX. 75067.
This is a planning session for next year’s classes and all input is requested. If you will volunteer to teach, host the training session or host quarterly meetings next year please come, or if you can’t email me before the meeting. If you are coming and would like to prepare a devotional , the topic is Charity. We will be listening to each presentation, just try to keep it to 5 or so minutes.
We want to hear about any events planned which include lay speakers and educate the laity. I am attaching a flyer [see below for link] for an event in Allen you or someone you know in your church might wish to attend. It is these [type of] events I would like to publish to you as they can continue our education and growth. See you Saturday, I am told there is a wonderful restaurant across the street for after the meeting for food and camaraderie. Leslie Maynard.
For many, the holiday season can be emotionally and spiritually difficult. FUMC Allen is offering a program facilitated by Nancy K. Dunkerley, co-founder of Spiritual Ministries Institute, Inc., a non-profit corporation promoting and providing ecumenical Christian formation and spiritual growth ministries. She is a spiritual director, retreat leader, and Christian educator. The Holidays Can Be Hard flyer may be found here.
Peace be with you.
Sherry Nash
Here are links to videos of sermons on Laity Sunday by lay speakers in the North Texas Conference.
Sherry Nash: “My church (First United Methodist Church of Mabank) is now posting audio files of sermons on our web site. I had the privilege of preaching again on our Laity Sunday this year, and thought you might like to “listen in”! Sermon title was “Light Up! Shine On!” referencing Matthew 5:13-16.
Go to www.fumcmabank.com
–> at the bottom of the home screen, click on Worship with Us
–> at the left side of the screen, under Worship Schedule, click on Sermon Library
–> Click on “Click Here to Listen” under October 23rd.
David De Roussel: I hope all is well with you. Here are links for the three sermons at Custer Road this past Laity Sunday, all given by lay speakers in our church.
Chris Bond – “Designed with Purpose” – 1 Peter 4: 10-14
http://www.ourchurchvideos.com/75023/crumcv3/videos/324/october-16,-2011-designed-with-purpose
David DeRoussel – “Get Out of Our Way” – 1 Peter 4: 8-11
http://www.ourchurchvideos.com/75023/crumcv3/videos/326/october-16,-2011-get-out-of-our-way
Dennis Allen – “The Green Jacket” – 1 Corinthians 12: 1-14
http://www.ourchurchvideos.com/75023/crumcv3/videos/328/october-16,-2011-the-green-jacket
Peace be with you.
Here are the upcoming online courses/workshops for November from BeADisciple.com. While these particular courses may not be approved by the General Board of Discipleship (GBOD) for advanced lay speaker accreditation, they may be helpful on your spiritual journey.
Uncensored Prayer: The Spiritual Practice of Wrestling with God– November 7 – December 9
This course is about the spiritual practice of discussing everything with God, risking honesty to gain intimacy through loving, trusting conversations. It is an opportunity to discover for yourself the redemptive freedom that comes from being totally honest with yourself and the One who loves you best.
Living Into the Answers: A Workshop on Personal Spiritual Discernment – November 7-18
Are you facing a decision? How do you know what God wants you to do? The Art of spiritual discernment involves asking these questions and then living into the answers. This workshop provides students with the opportunity to explore the process of discernment in an on-line setting. Experienced online instructors, Valerie Isenhower and Judith Todd will guide you.
Spirituality and Photography: The Liturgical Seasons — November 7-18
This class taught by Val Isenhower explores the crossroads of photography as a spiritual practice and the spirituality of the liturgical seasons. This course is for anyone interested in learning how to combine photography and the spirituality of the liturgical seasons. Any type of camera will work, although digital cameras will make uploading pictures easier.
Writing Your Safe Sanctuary Policy Five Day Intensive Workshop — November 14-18
This five-day online workshop is for congregations who need to write a Safe Sanctuary Policy, but are not yet ready (or cannot) commit a team of persons to the full four-week Safe Sanctuary workshop. Participants will learn why congregations should have a Safe Sanctuary policy, what the policy includes generally and specifically, how to get a policy written and approved, and how to implement it.
Peace be with you.
From Kathy Corley, Northwest District LSM District Director:
Mark your calendar:
The Northwest District Lay Speaking Ministries will hold a celebration of Lay Speakers on January 7, 2012 at the First United Methodist Church in Nocona, Texas from 10:00 am until Noon.
More details to come soon! Now, what I need from you:
Lay Speakers, local and certified, to lead music
Lay Speakers, local and certified, to tell your lay speaking story (How you came to be a lay speaker and how you minister to others using your training, talents, and gifts.)
I would like to have a keynote speaker as well. Do you know of someone? Would they be willing to come at little or no cost?
I need you to pass this on to your pastors and church members. Please, start thinking about members of your congregations that might make good lay speakers and of course you know that not all of us want to stand in the pulpit to bring a message, we are much more. It might be the small group leader, a Sunday school teacher, or someone with a passion for missions that we should include.
Let me know as soon as possible, if you are willing to be a part of the program. May God Bless your ministry! ———
Peace be with you.
From Kathy Corley, District Director, Northwest District LSM:
I thought I would bring everyone up-to-date on my efforts to bring the Northwest District Lay Speakers into one big happy family. First off, welcome back to Decatur, Rhome, and Boyd. I have already heard from some of you and am glad you are back with us.
I am working on the Bylaws for our group. I would like Nocona FUMC to host a district wide celebration of Lay Speaking in January. I have emailed Dr. Guier for a date that he could be in attendance. [See following post.]
The training for November 5 and 6, has three signed up for the Advanced course (I have heard that others are interested, but have not heard from them), no one has contacted me for sure about the Basic course (again, some have said they would like to take it, but no one for sure). I do know that Bob Duberry was having trouble finding the book for Evangelism at Cokesbury. I found that Amazon does have them. So search [here].
There is a ADCLSM Conference in Oklahoma City, January 26-29, 2012. I am attaching the brochure for you to look over. [Find brochure here.] I know that I have a conference with my college that week, therefore I will not be able to attend.
I am working with Greg Parr from the Nocona Church, to set up trainings for 2012. He will contact the pastors of the churches to set dates. At this time we are looking at Grace UMC for March or April of 2012, with maybe the advanced course being “From Your Heart to Theirs, Delivering an Effective Sermon.” Let me know if there has not been enough time since it was last taught in the area or if there is another course you would like.
For June or August, we will ask Decatur FUMC to hold the training. The Advanced course will be need to be decided.
The church for the Wichita Falls area needs to be decided for October or November 2012. The course at this time will be “Let the Whole Church Say Amen” (A Guide for Those Who Pray in Public). Again, if you want to see something else in that area, let me know.
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Peace be with you.
John Barham
The North Texas Conference Lay Speaking Ministries Conference Committee is contemplating a “mass laity gathering” for some time next year. After talking among those present at the last meeting, there was a consensus that inviting a speaker, preferably a lay person talking about laity issues, would be the optimum idea. Though this was the first thought, (others listed below), it was felt that there might be additional suggestions as to what could be addressed and/or accomplished with such an effort. It was decided to go to the membership for some ideas and feedback. Other suggestions at the Conference Committee meeting were:
1. Have a speaker come speak on a subject of general interest to all laity.
2. Have a Lay Speaking Ministries “fair” with displays of various subjects of interest to, and aspects of, laity.
3. Have a Lay Speaking Ministries revival (details to be determined if enough interest is generated.)
4. Have some sort of “forum” where subjects of interest are discussed by authorities in open format.
5. Special “one day” class on a chosen subject.
This is an initial appeal to gauge interest. Feedback from all lay speakers and laity would be appreciated. Please respond to jbconsults@suddenlink.net with the preferred number choice above or other suggestions. (If you submit your own proposal, you will be contacted for additional thoughts.)
- from John Barham, Training Coordinator, North Texas Conference Lay Speaking Ministries.
Peace be with you.
