Pastor's Note--- 60+ News---Announcements---Youth News

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Prayer Requests:

Prayer Requests from cards

Sam and Caroline Grant, Ethel Clay, Maggie Houston, Jean and Barbara Thompson,
Virginia and Howard Burney, Jack and Sarah Loftin, Hilda McRaney, Kathy King and all our shut-ins

4/6 - Melanie Williams, Mrs. Sharron Cannon, Joe Gill, Pete Petermann, Brice Petermann, Jason Mitchell, and Jeremy McWilliams

4/13 – Chesterene George, Charlene Cooper and family, Harold and Claudia Tisdale, Ted Brown, Mary and Rick Burrow on the death of their son Richard.

4/20 – Dixie Manning, Maxine Walker, Mary Jane Lampley, Mark Ginn and family and Sims Page

We remember with sympathy:
Aileen Burton
Zack Bailey, grandson of Charlene Cooper
Richard Burrows, nephew of Doris Mobarak

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WELCOME TO OUR NEWEST MEMBERS!
Agnes Whitlock
3338 Fleetwood Dr.
Jackson, MS 39212
(601) 371-9818


Kristy Taylor
1147 Verbena St.
Jackson, MS 39212
601-372-3362

We also welcome Kristy’s children who will be added to our Preparatory Roll:
Ashtyn Clark, Alliyah, Amanda, Anastasia, and Alexis Taylor, AND Brett Kimple (who was baptized here at Alta woods on 4-20-08.

TIME TO SIGN UP FOR MISSIONFEST!
This year MissionFest will be Sunday-Friday, June 1-6. As usual we will be staying at Millsaps College and most of the programming will take place at Galloway UMC.
IT’S TIME TO SIGN UP!

If YOU would like to go to MissionFest with the Alta Woods group, you’ll need to do three things:
1. Fill out and turn in the MissionFest Information Sheet for Youth and Adults,
2. Make sure you have a 2008 Alta Woods Medical Release Form on file in the church office,
3. Submit your $75.00 deposit (The church pays the rest!)
We don’t EVER want a young person to miss an event because of a financial need. See Bro. David if you need to apply for a scholarship.

THANKS, MICHAEL AND SARAH JO!
After completing the semester, Michael Price and Sarah Jo Adams will be returning home for the summer. Thanks, Michael and Sarah Jo, for stepping up in youth and children’s ministries! We’ll see you in the fall.

UNITED METHODIST GENERAL CONFERENCE
April 23 – May 2, Fort Worth, TX
Keep track of what’s happening at the General Conference by way of the Mississippi Conference web site:
www.mississippi-umc.org
(Click on the General Conference link above. You may then access the General Conference web site from the next page.)

The Mississippi United Methodist Advocate will also run features about the General Conference.

UPDATE TIME
We are attempting to get current information on all of our members. If your name, address or phone number has changed since 2005, please call the church office or put the info into the collection plate and help us update our records. We also need your e-mail addresses. Thanks. Raynelle Haddox

ASSOCIATE PASTOR EDDIE SPENCER ANNOUNCES A JUNE DEPARTURE
After accepting an invitation from the Susannah Wesley Society and a local church in Anniston, AL, the Reverend Eddie Spencer announced on Sun., Jan. 13, that he will be leaving Alta Woods UMC following the annual conference in June.

Eddie has given four years of faithful service to Alta Woods and we thank him for his work. Our prayers will precede Eddie and his family in their new place of work, school, and residence. More to come!



HEARING DEVICES AVAILABLE FOR SANCTUARY WORSHIP
We now have hearing devices to assist you in morning worship. Please see one of the ushers if you would like to use one today. You may also purchase your own personal device to keep and bring to worship with you. See Dick Johnson or John Pitts for more information.

FLOWERS FOR WORSHIP
Would you like to remember someone by sponsoring worship flowers in their honor or memory? Sign up in the Educational Building on the bulletin board in the hallway.

Pastor's Note

MAY, 2008, NEWSLETTER

TALK – IT’S ONE OF THOSE THINGS WHICH METHODISTS DO BEST!

As I write, United Methodists from around the world have gathered in Fort Worth, TX, for the 2008 General Conference. Those conferences are AMAZING, as people come from different states and stances, even different countries and cultures. What is so AMAZING is that with all the different perspectives represented at the table, they can still get things done! What brings them together? HOLY CONVERSATION -- the act of conferencing!

We in the United States know all about this kind of gathering – it’s in our blood. We send representatives to Washington to "conference" with others from all around the country, to talk and to listen, to hear and be heard. It is that high privilege and responsibility for which we Americans have fought and died. It is that right which we have defended, and it is that process which we have seen so beautifully at work in the presidential debates. We don’t always agree, but we WILL always defend one another’s right to disagree!

I believe what’s true in our American politics is also true in our church conferencing, and that’s one of the things which makes it a holy thing. We may not always agree with our brothers and sisters on theological issues or on the social expressions of what we believe, but we can always make it holy conversation by offering our voices and lending our ears and by respecting the right of others to express their understanding of how and to what God is calling us. I hope you have some good holy conversations this month, and as we look forward to our own annual conference in June, I pray that you will lend your voice and ear to the mix.

Peace,
David



For more information about Rev. Carroll go to: David Carroll

Locks of Love Abranna Sparks recently donated her hair to someone who needs it through Locks of Love. Abrana said she hopes that her hair can help someone have on step back to normality. Locks of Love is the most well-known hairpiece charity. Most Locks of Love wigs go to kids with long-term hair loss.

YOUTH MINISTRY HIGHLIGHTS


KIDS CONNECTION

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60+ News

I had a conflict and was unable to attend the April meeting. The reports I have received indicate it was a great meeting even though Eddie had to cancel too. The chaplain from Hospice filled in and gave those attending very pertinent information. We were all fortunate that Pat was able to get him on such short notice.

Surely we all understand that when programs need to be scheduled so far in advance there is no guarantee changes will not have to be made.

Now, we are looking forward to our May meeting on May 3rd at 2:00 p.m. Amy Lancaster of "We Will Go Ministries" will be our speaker. Marion Perkins is scheduled to greet but she has a broken leg and I believe Kay and Raymond Edwards will fill in for her. Glynn Calvin will bring the devotional and Jane Thrailkill and her crew of Trish Craig and Helen Artmann will be in charge of refreshments.

By now you will have heard that member Doris Mobarak’s nephew Richard Burrows earthly suffering has ended. Also, our newest member, Agnes Whitlock, is in Memphis with her critically ill sister. Don’t forget to pray for those who are sick and grieving.

I look forward to serving each of you on the 3rd of May.

My love to all, Helen

We are growing! We have finished our study on HOPE at the last meeting and we are all so grateful to Mark Katherine Callahan for her leadership.

Our next meeting will be on May 20th at 10:00. (Notice the earlier time of meeting!) This is our biggest meeting-our plant swap and pot-luck salad luncheon. Find some extra plants in your garden, pot them up and let’s share! Please bring at least three (or more, if you can) and take that same number home with you.

If you are not into gardening, bring your salad to share and enjoy the fellowship. This is our final meeting for the season and a good time for some of our members to visit and see how much you will enjoy the "connection."

I love you all,

Helen Artmann

Gravy and Grace Notes

We have returned to our formal space downstairs and are back to normal after the flooding. Just as Noah rejoiced at the sight of land, we rejoice at the sight of familiar surroundings. It is good to be back.

Our Gravy and Gracers continue to prosper spiritually and job-wise. We miss those who have left for employment, but we know part of us travels with them. The Apostles never lingered long in any one place either; they were on the move to spread the good news.

Some of us are not comfortable reading Scripture in front of others, so we felt particularly delighted and blessed when a Gravy and Grace member read, haltingly and with a little prompting, before the entire group. He understood that perfection was not required, only participation. How many of us are as assured of acceptance from our fellow Christians? What an example!

James Milner and Hamoonga Choongo continue to delight and inspire us with their teachings. Come join Gravy and Grace at 9:00 a.m. for the opportunity to receive two powerful teachings in the same day, if you also attend the main service. Two for the price of one; a true bargain!

Our Thrift Shoppe is overflowing with good deals but the incoming items are nearly too numerous to manage. We need a few more good volunteers on Thursdays to help sort and price clothing items. In exchange, YOU get a free lunch and great fellowship. Even if you can only help one time, try it, you might like it!

Cursillo, Emmaus and Chrysalis are alive and well here at Alta Woods. Future gatherings are being planned to keep that spark lit. These three-day group retreats can renew your spirit, lift your faith and feed your soul. If you are in a faith slump, try one of these retreats.

See Cindy for more information.