Author: Sue Berg

One thing that I found to be in common among all the Big Church organizations that I mentioned in the last Lay Leader Line is the connection that we have from the highest level of the Big Church down to the individual church and member.  Many opportunities exist to follow the latest news about the United Methodist Church, learn more about what it means to be a Methodist, and become involved in many initiatives to participate in the spreading of God’s Word and making disciples.  

From now on I will include information on some of these opportunities.  I truly hope that you will take a moment to check out at least one of these topics.   If you would like additional information on a particular subject, let me know. 

 

May 9, Mother’s Day – Wesley Woods’ Mother’s Day Offering

For more than 46 years, churches of The North Georgia Conference of The United Methodist Church have received the Mother’s Day Offering for Wesley Woods. This generous support funds financial assistance for meals and housing to residents who have the gift of a long life but may have outlived their resources. In addition, the Mother’s Day Offering also supports on-site chaplains and an innovative wellness program

Final Thought – Link to the Monday Memo

https://mailchi.mp/ngumc/monday-memo-239913?e=e9b63f8d1e

Sue Berg – Lay Leader, NFUMC 

STOP whatever you are doing right now.  Take a breath and moment to  reflect on what you felt on Easter and never  forget that wonderful day.  If asked, I am sure that each of  us could  come up with a special word or sentence to  describe the glorious feeling and  experience of that day.  Not only were we  celebrating the Resurrection of our  RISEN Lord, but also the  experience  and excitement of coming back together as a church. NEVER  forget that feeling and cherish it especially as we continue to  go forward out of the darkness of last year into the light of the future.   It may not always be  perfect or  without  flaws but  with  God’s help  we are headed towards the light.

Now, many times you will hear me say or see that I use the  term the  Big Church.  For clarification purposes, let me define what I mean.  (Please remember that this is only Sue’s term. )  The Big Church consists of the various levels and United Methodist organizations that are  above NFUMC. 

• Church (NFUMC)  ===> District (Southwest District)
  • SOUTHWEST  DISTRICT  consists of  Georgia counties of:  Butts, Coweta, Fayette, Harris,  Heard,  Jasper, Lamar, Meriwether,  Monroe,  Pike, Spalding,  Troup and Upson. 
  • Our current  District  superintendent is Rev. Susan  Landry.  The District  main office is in  Griffin.
• District ===> Conference (North Georgia Conference)
  • The North Georgia  Conference, located in Atlanta,  is compromised of  8 Districts.  Within these districts there are almost 800 churches, with  more than 1,300 clergy and approximately  340,000 lay members.  Our  conference is the largest in the  United States. 
  • The Conference is overseen by Bishop  Sue Haupert-Johnson.
• Conference  ===> Jurisdiction (Southeast Jurisdiction)
  • States comprising the Southeast Jurisdiction include: Mississippi,  Alabama, Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and Kentucky.
• Jurisdiction  ===> United Methodist Church 
  • The  United  Methodist  Church  has over 12 million  members  around world.   It was formed in 1968 but its heritage  goes back to 1700 England. 

In future Lay Leader Lines I will focus on these various organizations and explain their structure,  role and impact on the United Methodist Church to include NFUMC. 

As always, if you have any questions,  please contact me. 

Sue Berg – Lay Leader NFUMC 

For some time, I have been thinking about a better way to do some of the duties of a Lay Leader during these abnormal times.  So, I decided to write a monthly installment for the church newsletter and Facebook page called the Lay Leader’s Line.   This writing will provide relevant information for the North Fayette UMC congregation obtained from the South East Jurisdiction, the North Georgia Annual Conference, and the SouthWest District (former LaGrange District).   Additionally, I will probably include an article from these sources that I wish to share with you. 

I do not want this to only reflect my perspective, so I welcome any comments and input from you as to how to improve Lay Leader’s Line for the benefit of the entire North Fayette congregation as this is written for you; the Laity of North Fayette UMC.  I look forward to hearing from you.

Sue Berg

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Every Monday I receive a special email from the North Georgia Conference titled MONDAY MEMO.  It is written by the Rev. Dr. Terry Walton, who is the Executive Assistant to our Bishop Sue Haupert-Johnson.  I always love reading these memos as I find them to be down to earth, relevant and thought provoking.  In Rev. Dr. Walton’s own words:

 “I am hopeful that my thoughts on Mondays will stir thoughts in you. I am certain we will not agree on many things. But isn’t this what the world so desperately needs; a place of safe disagreement that could allow for fertile growth and maturing of us as God’s children? And when we do agree, to have the maturity of soul, emotions, and mind not to see it as choosing sides against those who think differently?”

So, for this first Lay Leader’s Line, I am including the link to this week’s Monday Memo.  It really caused me to pause and reflect for a while.  I hope you will also find in it touchpoints, ideas, and inspiration.

Sue Berg

https://us14.campaign-archive.com/?e=e9b63f8d1e&u=8c4a2bf5df821f76fea333283&id=4f6d9b606a