Entries from April 2008
Rev. Ginger Jones Holland, pastor of Fairview United Methodist and Robbs United Methodist Church in Pontotoc called with an update from the General Conference in Fort Worth. She said that there has been “lots and lots of worship.” She said that the Bishop Huie’s opening address talked about hope for the future of the church. Rev. Holland also enjoyed the first ever young people’s address to the church, given by six youth. Rev. Holland related a beautiful presentation by 7-year-old Catherine Commale, who raised $40,000 for malaria relief in Africa.
Rev. Holland said that the bishops announced a 4-point plan for the worldwide church, which includes: creating new places for congregations, engaging in ministry with the poor, eradicating killer diseaes, and helping to develop leaders in the church.
Rev. Holland added that the African bishops gave a very moving address, calling for scriptural holiness.
She said that the conference shows a “good spirit of cooperation” and now it’s time to “get down to business.”
Steve McAlilly, president of United Methodist Senior Services, in Tupelo, also a delegate to the conference, e-mailed as well.
McAlilly said that the meetings have been starting at 8 a.m. and he doesn’t get back to his room until after 11 p.m.
He said that there is a “great spirit” at the conference. He reiterated that the first two days were filled with worship. He said that Thursday afternoon the delegates finally got to their committees: McAlilly is on the Local Church Committee; Holland is on the Faith and Order Committee. McAlilly said that it might be Sunday before the plenary begins to consider some of the suggestions from the committees.
McAlilly also reiterated Holland’s sentiments about the bishop’s address. He said that it, combined with Bishop Christopher’s sermon, the next morning, “gave us a strong, spiritual and historical basis for the four areas of focus.” McAlilly said that the sermons also “reminded us of Wesley’s three rules: “Do no harm; Do good; Love God.”
Peace,
Galen
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The pictures below are not news. It’s just that, at the behest of Patsy Brumfield and Thomas Wells, I now take my camera with me EVERYWHERE I go. I love to take pictures. Todd Sherman tells me I have a decent eye. People will recognize William Faulkner’s home “Rowanoak” as well as the Lyceum at Ole Miss, the statue of James Meredith, some pics from the city of Hernando (my new home away from home) and a couple from Tupelo that caught my eye.
I spoke this afternoon with Rev. Andy Ray, pastor of First United Methodist Church in Tupelo. He’ll be leaving Sunday to attend the General Conference in Fort Worth, TX. Andy will be a reserve delegate, to fill in when anyone gets sick or has to leave the voting floor. He said that most of the real voting will start on Monday. Right now the 992 delegates are discussing and sorting through the 1500 petitions. Andy has attended one previous conference as a spectator. This will be his first trip as a participant. He said that he’s encouraged by the diversity of his district and jurisdiction and he’s confident that prudence and prayer will carry the day in the voting.
Check back tomorrow for updates from Rev. Bryan Collier from the Orchard, Steve McAlilly and Rev. Ginger Jones Holland from Pontotoc.
Peace,
Galen
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The slide show below is courtesy of Brad Noel, director of campus ministry at St. John’s in Oxford. It shows him, his wife, Christie, and the four students that went with them to the Papal Mass in New York. Brad said that they thoroughly enjoyed themselves. He said that the crowd was enthusiastic and kept hollering at Pope Benedict. That, Brad said, brought out a certain playfulness from the pope. He’d pause, periodically, and smile, in response to a loud “We love you, Pope Benedict!”
Today, I’ve been talking to some of our local folks who are heading to Ft. Worth, TX for the General Conference of the United Methodist Church. This conference happens once every four years and, this year, there is much to discuss.
Rev. Ginger Jones Holland, from Pontotoc, will be a delegate, as will Steve McAlily, president of Methodist Senior Services in Tupelo. They’re both excited about the trip. Both Holland and McAlily said that a major issue at the conference will be determining if the church in the United States, which has about 70% of members worldwide, should or should not become its own regional “central conference.” This, according to Holland and McAlily, will have reverberations throughout the rest of the agenda, which will include, among other things, discussion about inclusive language, transgenderism and the ever present issue of homosexuality – both among members and clergy.
Rev. Bryan Collier, pastor of the Orchard, is also a delegate. All of our local folks have been good enough to give me their cell phone numbers and will check in, from time to time, to keep me updated on how the conference is going. Check the blog for updates.
Peace,
Galen
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My friend Brad Noel, the campus minister at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Oxford ,phoned from Yankee Stadium. He said that he, his wife, and the four students from Ole Miss arrived at the stadium about 10 a.m. Eastern Time for the Mass at 2:30 p.m.
Brad said that the crowds (some 57,000, unofficially) were a bit overwhelming but that it was worth it. He added that their seats, in the right field stands, were pretty good. However, as opposed to the Mass at the Washington Nationals’ Stadium, where the altar was set up at home plate, facing the outfield, today, at Yankee Stadium, the altar appears to be set up at second base, facing home plate. Therefore, Brad said, many of the crowd will be behind the pope as he celebrates Mass.
Brad said that he and his group caught a close-up glimpse of the pope as he passed in the “pope-mobile,” down Fifth Avenue, toward St. Patrick’s Cathedral. The group was also able to attend a Mass at St. Patrick’s, before the pope’s arrival.
Brad said that the atmosphere at the stadium was exciting and reverent and that he and the group greatly anticipate a moving experience.
He added that, due to security measures, they wouldn’t be allowed to leave the stadium until nearly 6 p.m. Eastern Time.
Brad will try to phone again, later, and send pictures.
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April 18, 2:30 p.m.
Mary Woodward from the Diocese passed along this information from Bishop Joseph Latino and Bishop William Houck:
The Bishops are traveling from Washington to New York via train on Friday. They both felt that the Mass in Washington was “energetic and beautifully orchestrated.” They spoke of the diversity of people involved as Eucharistic ministers as very inspiring.
The Bishops also said that the musical highlight was hearing Placido Domingo sing “Panis Angelicus.”
The Bishops said that each talk the Holy Father has given has been captivating and has “touched the soul of the Church in America.”
One interesting note: The vestments that Bishop Latino and Bishop Houck wore during the Mass in Washington will be coming home with them to St. Peter Cathedral.
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Mary Woodward from the Diocese of Jackson phoned in. Bishop Houck called her from Nationals’ stadium at 8:30 a.m. central time. He and Bishop Latino were there. The Pope had just arrived and was circling the field in the “pope-mobile” before dressing for Mass.
Bishops Latino and Houck said that they both attended the ceremony at the White House South Lawn. They also said that the Vespers service at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Wednesday night, was very well done and “evoked an intimate, prayer-filled atmosphere.”
Hope Johnson from Jackson called from Nationals’ Stadium as well. Hope said that the stadium was in a kind of quiet buzz, just before Mass. Hope also said that the ride to the stadium, on the “Metro” train system was festive and very crowded. She said that the seats that she and others from the diocese were occupying were pretty high up in the stadium but that they could see quite well. They were preparing for a beautiful celebration.
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This month’s prayer breakfast was held at Calvary Baptist Church in Tupelo. Neddie Winters led a discussion in which groups were asked ‘If you could change one thing about how blacks/whites think, what would it be?’ Pretty challenging stuff. As Neddie went around the room, the answers, as on might guess, were pretty innocuous. “To see things from other’s perspectives,” one group said. Another added, “To respect each other’s differences.” Neddie, in typical fashion, challenged us all, saying that if we were alone with people of our own color, we would give very different answers.
I was lucky enough to be in a group with Tupelo City Councilwoman Nettie Davis, Jack Reed, Sr., and Constance Hill. The discussion was pretty lively.
The breakfast, provided by Calvary Baptist, was delicious.
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I have to apologize for not updating my blog in a week. Inexcusable. However, I hope to make up for it. A few people from the Northeast Mississippi area are traveling to see Pope Benedict when he visits the U.S. starting Tuesday. They’ve been good enough to check in with me, from time to time, and give me live, first-hand updates about what’s going on. If possible, they’re also going to send pictures.
There are ten people from Oxford going, including 4 undergrads and 2 grad students. Most of them are from St. John’s Catholic Church, just off campus. They’ll be going to the Mass in New York at Yankee Stadium. They won’t be leaving until Thursday, however.
Bishops Latino and Houck, from the Diocese of Jackson, will greet the Pope on the South Lawn of the White House on Wednesday morning – which, incidentally, will be the Pope’s 81’st birthday. Latino and Houck will also be present at Catholic University of America when the Pope speaks there that same day.
I’m keeping my fingers crossed for e-mail comments from the bishops.
For a detailed, hour-by-hour schedule of the Pope’s visit, check out FoxNews.com.
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