Volume XXXIV January 11, 2012 Number 2

CONGRATULATIONS, CENTRAL!Last week we shared the good news that due to the generosity of the Central community,we met all our yearly obligations and paid our apportionment/mission shares in full to the Mississippi Annual Conference. I received the following note from Bishop Hope Morgan Ward last Thursday. I share it with you to let you know your efforts in ministry are appreciated:

Dear Bob and friends at Central:

Blessings in this new year! Thank you for the wonderful effort and generosity this year. This newsletter celebrates 100% participation in connectional ministries of the UMC. I celebrate this with you and give thanks to God for you today. Hope Morgan Ward

We are committed to faithful stewardship at Central. Let's build on 2011 so that 2012 will also be a great year to the glory of God!

WNL Meal ResumesPage 2Administrative Council

and CongregationalSurvey Page 2

Lessons fromHollywood Page 5

CURRENT EVENTS

ADMINISTRATIVE COUNCIL TO MEET JANUARY 17th

The Administrative Council will hold its first meeting of 2012 on TUESDAY, JANUARY 17th, at 5:45 p.m. in the Sanctuary.We welcome those who are newly-elected members to the Council. This meeting will be brief and focus on one issue -approval of the 2012 budget. The budget for 2012 was tentatively approved last November at the Charge Conference,pending the results of the stewardship emphasis. We are now ready to review those results and give final approval to abudget for this year.

PARTICIPATE IN A CONGREGATIONAL SURVEY!We invite you to be in worship this week not only for the beginning of the year's first series, Lessons from Hollywood, butalso to participate in a congregational survey. Your input is valued!

Like all living things, every congregation has a "life cycle" that begins with birth and ends in death. With the projection that150,000 Christian churches in America will close in the next 10 years, we need your help in identifying where CENTRAL isin its "life cycle". During worship on January 15th, we will pass out a graph of "The Life Cycle of a Congregation", developedby Dr. George Bullard. The graph will contain the various stages and characteristics of congregational life. We will ask youto do two things:• mark on the chart with a circle where you think Central is in its “life cycle”• indicate what direction Central is currently moving by drawing an arrow “up” or “down”

We encourage you to join us in worship this Sunday at either 8:30 a.m. or 10:55 a.m.!

WEDNESDAY NIGHT LIVE RESUMES!WNL MEAL will resume January 18th at 5:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. If you would like to volunteer to serve, pleasecontact Deborah at 601.693.1521. Adult menu: Bacon ranch chicken, oven brown potatoes with cheese & onions, fresh stir-fry vegetables, mini salad bar,garlic bread, fresh baked cookies & ice cream. Kids menu: Pizza & French friesPlease make your reservations by Tuesday, January 17th, by calling the church office at 601.693.1521.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT SMALL GROUPSHear a preview and sign up for a small group this spring, at 6:00 p.m., Wednesday, January 18th in the Fellowship Hall.

MERIDIAN DISTRICT LEADERSHIP TRAINING 2012Meridian District Leadership Training will be held Sunday, January 29, 2012 at Poplar Springs United Methodist Churchfrom 2:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. The Conference Staff will be on hand to assist. The following areas of training will be offered:C PPRC CommitteeC Trustee CommitteeC MissionC Finance Committee

*Special Session*: Payroll Workshop 2:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.

“COFFEE WITH THE PASTORS” Several times a year, the staff of Central UMC offers "Coffee with the Pastors" [CWTP]. This is a time when those interestedin knowing more about Central or interested in becoming a member can learn about who we are, what our mission is, andwhat we expect of new members. At the conclusion of the CWTP, those who wish to become members may join at that time;those who have never been baptized and wish to be can be baptized at that time. The first CWTP of 2012 will be Sunday,February 12th from 2:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m.

THIS WEEK AT CENTRAL

SENIOR ADULT MINISTRY

FINANCE AND STEWARDSHIP

CENTRAL COMMUNITY

FH=Fellowship Hall AAR = Adult Activities RoomSunday, 1/15/12 8:00 a.m. - Breakfast 8:30 a.m. - Worship/Sunday School10:55 a.m. - Worship Service 4:30 p.m. - Youth Praise Band Monday, 1/16/12 Central Office Closed - Holiday CCC Closed - Holiday 2:00 p.m. - Shields Circle -Offsite Tuesday, 1/17/12 9:30 a.m. - Women’s Bible Study- AAR 9:30 a.m. - Gilmore Circle 6:30 p.m. - Praise Band Practice-FH

Wednesday, 1/18/12 5:00 p.m. - WNL Meal Resumes 6:00 p.m. - WNL Small Group Preview 6:00 p.m. - Youth 7:00 p.m. - Choir Rehearsal-Choir Rm 8:00 p.m. - College Bible Study-Annex

Thursday, 1/19/1212:00 p.m. - LILIES - AAR

Friday, 1/20/12 11:30 a.m. - Lunch Bunch - AAR Saturday, 1/21/12 No activities scheduled

LUNCH BUNCH - 11:30 a.m.- Friday, January 13th CIRCLE’S FISH CAMP - Saturday, January 21st at 4:30 p.m.

XYZ - 10:45 a.m. - Tuesday, February 7th - Fellowship HallMenu: Pork loin, garlic potatoes, vegetable casserole, salad, rolls, banana pudding and ice cream.

Date of the March XYZ: Tuesday, March 6, 2012. Meals are $6.00

Stewardship Thought“The world and all that is in it belongs to the Lord...”

Psalm 24:1 (Good News)

OUR SYMPATHY TO:The family of Rev. George Barry Skelton following his death Friday, January 6, 2012. He was buried Monday, January 9th, in Meridian.

OUR CONGRATULATIONS TO:John McRae of Central, who has been named one of the "Top 50 Bank Reps" for 2011 by Bank Investment Consultantmagazine.

SPIRITUAL FORMATION & GROWTH

CHILDREN’S MINISTRY

YOUTH MINISTRY

The “Food for the Journey” scripture readings have changed effective this past Monday, January 9, 2012. Morning readings will be from The Old Testament starting with Genesis - Malachi [excluding Psalm]Noon readings will be PsalmEvening readings will be from the New Testament starting with Matthew - Revelation

FOOD FOR THE JOURNEY[suggested Bible readings for January 16 - January 22, 2012]

Mon. Jan. 16Tue. Jan. 17Wed. Jan. 18Thu. Jan. 19Fri. Jan. 20Sat. Jan. 21Sun. Jan. 22

MorningGenesis 8Genesis 9Genesis 10Genesis 11Genesis 12Genesis 13Genesis 14

NoonPsalm 8Psalm 9Psalm 10Psalm 11Psalm 12Psalm 13Psalm 14

EveningMatthew 8Matthew 9Matthew 10Matthew 11Matthew 12Matthew 13Matthew 14

THE ZONE!The Zone will resume Sunday, January 15th at 5:30 p.m., in the 11th Street Gym.

BREAKTHRU 2012 - “Light Wins”This was the second year in a row we attended BreakThru at Timber Lake Camp. We took twice as many students aslast year, and they spent four God filled days growing stronger in their walk with Christ. Six of these students madepublic decisions concerning their walk with the Lord. The students who attended this year's trip will be wearing theircamp shirts and speaking about their experiences in the 8:30 and 10:55 services this Sunday, January 15th. Thanks goout to Alicia Bancroft and Will Frasier for going as chaperones and to Lee Williams, Jim Wall, Dana Boyken, and WesleyPepper for taking care of our transportation needs.

Alicia Bancroft Will Frasier Victoria SellersEli Bancroft Tanner Goldman Kamryn Shields Conner Bancroft Joshua Gothard Audrey Sollie Kyle Boyken Laura Huff Rachel SollieJD Cain Nelson Gothard Cassie ThomasLaura Huff Caroline Parker Tate ThompsonJim Cain Wes McRae Hannah ThorntonGraham Campbell Heather Roberts Kinsey ThorntonJT Goldman Shannon Sellers Madie Thornton

DISCIPLE NOW FEBRUARY 3 - 5, 2012Disciple Now is a weekend retreat held in town with a joint worship time involving most of the largerchurches in our area. Students in grades 6 -12 are invited to participate.

What a stroke of luck, or perhaps God's providence, that Adam Robinson, the phenomenal speakerat BreakThru is also the speaker for D'Now. Joining Adam is praise and worship leader, AaronKeyes. The cost is $35 until Monday, January 16th, then the cost rises to $40. If you want to get ajump start on the weekend, check out Aaron Keys new CD "Dwelling". The album is strong from startto finish with 13 songs that reflect Aaron's faith and love for the Lord.

MISSIONS & EVANGELISM

WORSHIP

On Call PastorJanuary 13 - January 15, 2012

Jim WallCell: 601.527.0326

Home: 601.483.0263

Attendance

8:30 S.S. 10:00

255 302 216

ATTENTION DISASTER RESPONSE TEAM MEMBERS!On Saturday, January 14th, Rev. Wayne Napier, Mississippi Disaster Response Coordinator, will be at Central UMCAnnex Building [building across from the church] to train sixteen volunteers to be a part of our Disaster/Early ResponseTeam. The training will begin at 9:00 a.m. and will adjourn around 2:00 p.m. Lunch will be provided by the church. Thecost for the class will be $30 which will cover your ID badge, the processing fee for the background check, and yourworkbook. You may bring your $30 fee made out to Central UMC the day of the training. Everyone has turned in thebackground check forms but in order for it to be official you must attend the training session. If you are interested incoming to this training and have not filled out a background check form please contact Rev. Wesley Pepper atwesley@cumcmdn.org or call the church office 601.693.1521. Thanks for your help!

"LESSONS FROM HOLLYWOOD" BEGINS JANUARY 15th!Well, it's that time again - time to glean biblical messages from the movies we know and love - or in somecases, have never heard of! Our six-week series begins on January 15th.

Here are this year's movies: January 15th The Lion KingJanuary 22nd The Shawshank RedemptionJanuary 29th Oh, God!February 5th RudyFebruary 12th Something the Lord MadeFebruary 19th Of Gods and Men

PRAYER CONCERNS

Shay AdamsBrad BeckerEmily BryanRob CalcoteAnnie W. CherryEvans CulpepperLayton DausmanGlenn DeesJune Fleming

Mary Jarvis FutrellHarold GrissomChuck HartfieldHazel KnightBilly MeltonDavid MurrayLinda ReedBob ThomasAnita Yeatman

Marshall Jones as he continues his mission with “Campus Crusade for Christ” at USM in HattiesburgThaddeus Quarles, son of Thad and Cleta, as he works in Haiti

MILITARY PERSONNEL SERVING OVERSEAS:Central MembersDoug Grant (son of Freddy & Linda Grant)

Family & FriendsEric Dollar, nephew of Becky SollieJason Freeman, friend of Glenda ThomasJoseph London III, friend of Kathy WatkinsBrantley Pace, cousin of Glover Family (Brantley is serving in Afghanistan)All U.S. Military personnel

CONSULTATION PROCESS UNDERWAYWhat IS the "consultation process"? United Methodist pastors are appointed for one year at a time. Appointments are madeeach year as a result of consultation between the Bishop and District Superintendents, pastors, and local church Staff-ParishRelations Committees. The "consultation process" takes place early each year.

What is the "consultation process" NOT? The "consultation process" is not a time to unload grievances or issues that havenothing to do with the ministry of Central UMC or the effectiveness of current pastoral leadership. Nor is the consultationprocess a time of "cheerleading" for the pastors simply because you like them. The "consultation process" IS concernedwith whether a pastor or pastors are demonstrating effective leadership and whether they should/should not be reappointedfor another year.

How can I be involved in the "consultation process"? If you have input about whether our pastor/s should continue orwhether a change in pastoral leadership is needed, please contact a member of the Staff-Parish Relations CommitteeBEFORE February 15, 2012. It is NOT necessary to contact EVERY member of the SPRC.

The SPRC Chairperson is Jerry Mason; other members of the committee include Martha Wright, Richard Armstrong, JoyceBarber, Wink Glover, Carlton Young, Mark Roebuck, Jeff Sellers, and Lawona Broadfoot. Also part of the SPRC are MaryHooper, Jan Hitt, Mark Scarborough, and Kendrick Prewitt [Lay Members, Annual Conference], and Thad Quarles [LayLeader]

Will the SPRC's decision be final? No decision about pastoral appointments is final until the Bishop announcesappointments in June at the 2012 Annual Conference. Sometimes, despite the wishes of the SPRC and the local church,appointment changes are necessitated by other needs within the Annual Conference. However, in the vast majority ofsituations, when pastors and SPRCs agree on a decision, the Bishop and District Superintendents honor that decision.