Online help for scheduling meetings!

May 14-15 is Change the World Weekend for the entire United Methodist denomination! If you're still thinking of ways to reach out that weekend, or anytime, UMCOM has five ideas in this enewsletter article.

As soon as a family at McKendree UMC shares that they are expecting a new baby, they are given a card to fill out for the "Great Expectations" bulletin board.

Covington First UMC does a good job of keeping the congregation connected to college students!

Another creative way to connect with children at Sugar Hill UMC!

Will Zant, pastor at North Springs UMC, had a great idea for getting the word out about Advent services at the church -- door hangers.

The U.S. Congregational Life Survey asked worshipers who began attending their congregation in the past five years how they first found out about the church before they visited. The biggest draw? A personal invitation! 

United Methodist Communications just announced the release of the Rethink Church Edition Common English Bible (New Testament). Churches may order their own copies at $5 each to give away to church visitors or at Rethink Church events in their communities.

Bethlehem First has had excellent response to the Master Greeter program. In fact, they would like every person in the church to think of themselves as a Master Greeter. Check out the attached link or contact Parker Benson for more information. 

There's no doubt that Mt. Vernon UMC in Rocky Face welcomes youth. They had a professional grafiti artist paint the room.

The Korean UMC of Atlanta has some great signage. There are 39 parking spaces for parents of babies. What is your church saying, literally, with its signs?

I came across this USA Today article that says 'Hospitality has found a home in the world of worship--and there's a lesson in this for the nation at large.'

Thoughts shared by Tom Compton, Pastor of Wesley Chapel UMC, Eatonton

ReThink Church has a good number of free resources not the least of which is "Back to Church Sunday." 
Click here to learn more.

Book review from Tom Bandy on book I gave him, Setting the Table by Danny Meyer.

Isaiah 11:6-9
"The wolf shall live with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the kid, the calf and the lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them.
"The cow and the bear shall graze, their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.
"The nursing child shall play over the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put its hand on the adder's den.
"They will not hurt or destroy on all my holy mountain; for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea."

Read About the Inspirational Story of Jasmine, the Mother Theresa Greyhound.