June 21, 2010

You know you're living in 2010 because ...

1. You accidentally enter your ATM pin number on your microwave touchpad.
2. You haven't played solitaire with real cards in years.
3. You have 15 phone numbers to reach your family of four.
4. Your excuse for not staying in touch with family and friends is that you don't know their e-mail addresses.
5. You pull up in your own driveway and use your cell phone to find out if anyone is at home to help you carry in the groceries.
6. When you get a recommendation for something, you immediately Google it to find out the real scoop.
7. Leaving the house without your cell phone (which you didn't have for the first several dozen years of your life) is a cause for panic. You immediately turn around to retrieve it. If it's too late, you later apologize to someone that you were out of reach.
8. You e-mail the person who works at the desk next to you.
10. You don't know when your favorite television programs come on, because your Tivo takes care of everything.
11. You don’t understand why they say, “Turn to hymn #373,” because the words are on the big screen.
12. When you wake up in the middle of the night you check your Blackberry to see if you have a message from anyone.
13. You go online in the morning before your coffee is ready.
14. When the minister reads the Bible in worship you follow along on your iPhone.
15. You tell your friends to “Facebook me later.”
16. You start tilting you head sideways to smile. :)
17. You are reading this and nodding and laughing.
18. Even worse, you know exactly who you are going to forward this message.
19. You are too busy to notice there was no # 9 on this list.
20. You actually scrolled back to check that there was no #9 on this list.
21. You are proud to be a United Methodist in North Georgia. *

A few things to make you proud from Annual Conference last week:

• $121,600 was given to the Central Conference Pension Initiative. This is in addition the $1.2 million already pledged or given.
• 200,230 meals were packed by volunteers to feed hungry children.
• 669 churches paid 100% of their apportionments last year.
• 58 persons were ordained or commissioned for ministry.
• A new initiative which will seek to build relationships between the North Georgia Conference and ministry partners around the world was announced. The first Bridge of Mission which launches this year is to Uganda.
• 2,239 lay and clergy members pre-registered using the new online registration process.
• Membership in North Georgia is now at 356,279. This is an increase of 2,185 from last year.
• 6,522 persons made a profession of faith in North Georgia United Methodist churches last year.
• North Georgia United Methodists gave $657,391 last year to The Advance, the designated giving arm of The United Methodist Church.
• Camp Glisson celebrated its 85th Anniversary.
• Volunteers gave 50,000 hours of volunteer service through the programs of Action Ministries last year.
• Three new church starts were constituted last year. Four more are scheduled to constitute this year. A new church plant is being organized in South Clayton County.
• Denman Evangelism Awards were presented to: Caitlin McKenzie (Youth), Henry Fuller (Laity), Sharma Lewis (Clergy).
• Seven churches were recognized as Churches of Excellence in Outreach: Briarcliff, East Cobb, Elizabeth Lee, Loganville, North Decatur, McEachern, Union Point.
• Five churches were recognized for Excellence in Outreach to refugees: Avondale Patillo, Dunwoody, Oak Grove, North Decatur, Northside.
• The number of youth and young adult members was the largest in many years.
• There was a great spirit among the conference members throughout the Annual Conference session.
• We have a bishop that can preach.

Jamie Jenkins
jjenkins@ngumc.org

For a full recap of last week’s 144th Session of the North Georgia Annual Conference, go to www.ngumc.org.

....................................................................................................................................................

North Georgia Conference Event Spotlight

Professional Association of UM Church Secretaries Institute
July 17-23 | Candler School of Theology
The PAUMCS Institute provides advanced professional training and enrichment for UM church secretaries. Participants who complete the program, and who meet the requirements set forth by GCFA, are eligible to apply for certification as a Professional United Methodist Church Secretary. Registration cost includes course materials, a continental breakfast Monday-Friday, and lunches and dinners Sunday and Thursday. For more information, please contact Cynthia Haralson at 866.367.4232, or visit http://www.gbgm-umc.org/paumcs/certification.html#register.

....................................................................................................................................................

Upcoming Events this Week from the Conference Calendar

Thursday, June 24
Clergy Moving Day

View the Entire Conference Calendar

....................................................................................................................................................

North Georgia Conference Links of Interest

Subscribe to North Georgia Conference E-newsletters
North Georgia Conference Employment Listings
North Georgia Conference Resource Listings
The North Georgia Advocate
Read the Bible in a Year
North Georgia Conference on Facebook

....................................................................................................................................................

Scriptures for this Sunday

June 27, 2010
Fifth Sunday After Pentecost

2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14
Psalm 77:1-2, 11-20 (UMH 798)
Galatians 5:1, 13-25
Luke 9:51-62

Visit the General Board of Discipleship website for lectionary planning helps