Saturday, December 31, 2011

Missionaries from DR visiting us Jan 15

What do you think a missionary family looks like? And why would they leave GA for the Dominican Republic?



Meet these Waynesboro GA missionaries to the DR Sunday, January 15th. We will host John & Donna Bearden and family that day at Trinity on the Hill from 10:00-10:45 AM in the Chapel. We have been pleased to partner with the Bearden
family this year as they've gotten established "on the field" full time and look forward to hearing their story. John and Donna have been doing mission work in the Dominican Republic for 11 years prior to accepting a position with United Methodist Volunteers In Missions and the Iglesia Evangelica Dominicana ministry. John worked for the State of Georgia and Donna served as a Neonatal Intensive Care Registered Nurse with University Hospital for 20 years prior to going to the DR full time. The Beardens are one of Trinity's sponsored international missionaries and we are glad to host this family. We also hope to take a team to the Dominican Republic in the next year and will learn about those opportunities.

Friday, December 30, 2011

Mission Training Feb. 4

Here's a replay you may have missed so you close out the old year well and are prepared for 2012:

The "Faith in Action" Mission Training will be at Trinity on the Hill in Augusta, Saturday February 4, 2012. This is hosted in coordination with the North Georgia Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church as Mike Yoder and the Disaster Response leadership of the conference train us. This event is open to all interested churches and individuals as we seek to be better prepared for emergencies in our communities, state, and region. Our hope is that many churches will participate as we all seek to improve our ability to serve in a disaster.

So we can be prepared and due to requirements for class sizes we do need participants to sign up prior to the event. Please consider this and encourage a team from your congregation or group to participate.

Classes include:

Children’s Disaster Services: Shelter Child Care Training- Friday-Saturday. Cost $45 with scholarships available. Instructs individuals on how to set-up and operate a child care center within a temporary disaster response shelter. 2 Day Training includes mandatory Overnight Stay. A minimum of 15 registrations are required by January 13. Friday, February 3, begins with dinner at 5:00 PM and concludes Saturday, February 4 at 6:00 PM includes emergency shelter simulation with meals provided. An overview of this excellent training may be found at CDS on YouTube. Please sign up ASAP as seating is limited.

Saturday, February 4, 9:00AM-5:00 PM with lunch & refreshments provided.

UMCOR: Disaster Assessment- Saturday, 3 hour course. Instruction on the UMCOR approach and coordination of disaster assessment immediately following a tornado or hurricane.

UMCOR: Disaster Prepared Church- Saturday, 3 hour course. Instructs the church how to prepare the physical facility before a disaster strikes and then respond to the needs of the local church, community and area following a disaster.

UMCOR: Basic Spiritual & Emotional Care- Saturday, 8 hour course. $10 for background check for badge. Trains individuals to provide support, information and referral for a holistic disaster recovery & help disaster survivors connect with their personal, community, spiritual, emotional and basic life resources.

UMCOR: Early Response Training- Saturday, 8 hour course. Cost: $10 for background check for badge. Training provides information that includes the who, what, when, where and how of doing ministry, as well as hands on experience in the specific tasks that early responders are expected to accomplish.

UMVIM Mission Team Leader Training- Saturday, 8 hour course. Cost $25 for notebook. Learn all the “nuts and bolts” or leading a team or enjoy a refresher course that allows you to network and lead UMVIM teams nationally and internationally.

More details and registration are HERE or by contacting the Trinity on the Hill UMC mission office. Please don't hesitate to register!

Thursday, December 29, 2011

Day of Service Jan 28

Ready to go to work?

The Day of Service will be Saturday, January 28, and always proves to be an exciting day of mission projects.

We'll gather in the Wesley Hall dining room from 8:00-8:30 AM for coffee and fellowship (& for final instructions or weather changes), then gather teams and deploy at 8:40 for our locations. Most groups will work from 9:00AM– 12 Noon unless otherwise noted. Sign-ups start in January if you like the "clipboard after worship" approach or feel free to go online. Mission partners are still responding so other options will be available in addition to the few I highlight below.

Some of the mission options include:
Augusta Canal Clean Up— 8-10 workers needed to clean up both sides of the Trinity section of the canal from the locks to Broad Street.

Master’s Table Soup Kitchen- 702 Fenwick Street, Augusta. Ten to fifteen adults (18 years or older) serves from 9:00 AM to 12:30 PM to prepare and help serve a meal to approximately 300 guests.

The Lydia Project— 10 workers need to help do some spring cleaning.

Augusta Urban Ministries (now called Action Ministries/ Augusta), 303 Hale Street. 8-12 workers needed to help build beds.

Mercy Ministries, 1621 15th Street (the old Castleberry plant). We can use two teams: 1) for unpacking and sorting at the Thrift Shop, and 2) a team or teams to frame and sheetrock dressing rooms for the Thrift Shop.

Stop Hunger Now Packing Party—need 40 people—10 AM-12 noon at Wesley Hall. Package a fortified, dehydrated rice/soy meal. The team will package 10,000 meals in 2 hours. Find more information here to learn what we'll be packing.

And did I mention that MORE teams are developing?!

Make plans to participate as we serve together in mission. Sign up HERE to secure your place. Some groups have a maximum number we can accommodate so be sure to sign up and follow through!

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Faith in Action Mission Event Jan 28-Feb. 5

We host an annual mission emphasis and "hit the ground running" in the new year for the late January/early February event. Our Trinity Outreach Celebration theme this year will be “Faith in Action” & include mission training for disaster relief and for mission team leadership. I hope you'll get us on your calendar and make plans to attend.

Saturday, January 28, 8:30AM-12:00 Noon
Day of Mission Projects

Wednesday, February 1, 6:30-7:30PM
Mission Celebration
Worship with children’s choirs singing & Rev. Phil Schroeder preaching.

Saturday, February 4, 9:00AM-3:00PM
Mission Training Event
Half day & full day classes for certification for mission leadership, disaster response, shelter volunteers, and more.

Sunday February 5, Mission Challenge
Both 8:30 AM & 11:00 AM worship services include youth choirs singing & Rev. Phil Schroeder preaching.
Sunday School classes will include Mission Updates.

Go to Augusta Mission Training for details and to sign up.

Friday, December 23, 2011

Mission Training, February 4 @ Trinity on the Hill UMC

The "Faith in Action" Mission Training will be at Trinity on the Hill in Augusta, Saturday February 4, 2012. This is hosted in coordination with the North Georgia Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church as Mike Yoder and the Disaster Response leadership of the conference train us. This event is open to all interested churches and individuals as we seek to be better prepared for emergencies in our communities, state, and region. Our hope is that many churches will participate as we all seek to improve our ability to serve in a disaster.

So we can be prepared and due to requirements for class sizes we do need participants to sign up prior to the event. Please consider this and encourage a team from your congregation or group to participate.

Classes include:

Children’s Disaster Services: Shelter Child Care Training- Friday-Saturday. Cost $45 with scholarships available. Instructs individuals on how to set-up and operate a child care center within a temporary disaster response shelter. 2 Day Training includes mandatory Overnight Stay. A minimum of 15 registrations are required by January 13. Friday, February 3, begins with dinner at 5:00 PM and concludes Saturday, February 4 at 6:00 PM includes emergency shelter simulation with meals provided. An overview of this excellent training may be found at CDS on YouTube. Please sign up ASAP as seating is limited.

Saturday, February 4, 9:00AM-5:00 PM with lunch & refreshments provided.

UMCOR: Disaster Assessment- Saturday, 3 hour course. Instruction on the UMCOR approach and coordination of disaster assessment immediately following a tornado or hurricane.

UMCOR: Disaster Prepared Church- Saturday, 3 hour course. Instructs the church how to prepare the physical facility before a disaster strikes and then respond to the needs of the local church, community and area following a disaster.

UMCOR: Basic Spiritual & Emotional Care- Saturday, 8 hour course. $10 for background check for badge. Trains individuals to provide support, information and referral for a holistic disaster recovery & help disaster survivors connect with their personal, community, spiritual, emotional and basic life resources.

UMCOR: Early Response Training- Saturday, 8 hour course. Cost: $10 for background check for badge. Training provides information that includes the who, what, when, where and how of doing ministry, as well as hands on experience in the specific tasks that early responders are expected to accomplish.

UMVIM Mission Team Leader Training- Saturday, 8 hour course. Cost $25 for notebook. Learn all the “nuts and bolts” or leading a team or enjoy a refresher course that allows you to network and lead UMVIM teams nationally and internationally.

More details and registration are HERE or by contacting the Trinity on the Hill UMC mission office. Please don't hesitate to register!

Thursday, December 22, 2011

January Day of Service

As part of the Trinity Outreach Celebration we'll have a mission work day and will offer a range of activities for children, teenagers, and adults. The Day of Service
will be Saturday, January 28, and always proves to be an exciting day of mission projects.

We'll gather in the Wesley Hall dining room from 8:00-8:30 AM for coffee and fellowship (& for final instructions or weather changes), then gather teams and deploy at 8:40 for our locations. Most groups will work from 9:00AM– 12 Noon unless otherwise noted. Sign-ups start in January if you like the "clipboard after worship" approach or feel free to go online. Mission partners are still responding so other options will be available in addition to the few I highlight below.

Some of the mission options include:
Augusta Canal Clean Up— 8-10 workers needed to clean up both sides of the Trinity section of the canal from the locks to Broad Street.

Master’s Table Soup Kitchen- 702 Fenwick Street, Augusta. Ten to fifteen adults (18 years or older) serves from 9:00 AM to 12:30 PM to prepare and help serve a meal to approximately 300 guests.

The Lydia Project— 10 workers need to help do some spring cleaning.

Augusta Urban Ministries (now called Action Ministries/ Augusta), 303 Hale Street. 8-12 workers needed to help build beds.

Mercy Ministries, 1621 15th Street (the old Castleberry plant). We can use two teams: 1) for unpacking and sorting at the Thrift Shop, and 2) a team or teams to frame and sheetrock dressing rooms for the Thrift Shop.

Stop Hunger Now Packing Party—need 40 people—10 AM-12 noon at Wesley Hall. Package a fortified, dehydrated rice/soy meal. The team will package 10,000 meals in 2 hours. Find more information here to learn what we'll be packing.

And did I mention that MORE teams are developing?!

Make plans to participate as we serve together in mission!!

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Christmas and Incarnational Mission Training

OK, I confess I'm very guilty of looking beyond Christmas! I'm already anticipating a very busy start to the new year. If you are in the Augusta GA area I hope you'll be part of the excitement.

We host an annual mission emphasis and "hit the ground running" in the new year for the late January/early February event. Our Trinity Outreach Celebration theme this year will be “Faith in Action” & include mission training for disaster relief and for mission team leadership. I hope you'll get us on your calendar and make plans to attend.

Saturday, January 28, 8:30AM-12:00 Noon
Day of Mission Projects

Wednesday, February 1, 6:30-7:30PM
Mission Celebration
Worship with children’s choirs singing & Rev. Phil Schroeder preaching.

Saturday, February 4, 9:00AM-3:00PM
Mission Training Event
Half day & full day classes for certification for mission leadership, disaster response, shelter volunteers, and more.

Sunday February 5, Mission Challenge
Both 8:30 AM & 11:00 AM worship services include youth choirs singing & Rev. Phil Schroeder preaching.
Sunday School classes will include Mission Updates.

Go to Augusta Mission Training for details and to sign up.

Thursday, December 15, 2011

Five Management Metrics You Need to Know

Work and life often take up blogging time!

I don't usually catch too much business news, but the link below is beautiful and has great application in church work.

Metric 1: Flow State Percentage
Knowledge workers and deep thinkers- being "in the zone"- need sustained deep concentration, i.e. flow state. "Studies have shown that each time flow state is disrupted it takes fifteen minutes to get back into flow, if you can get back at all."

Metric 2: Anxiety-Boredom Continuum
"He said that his goal was to keep all of his students in the pocket between boredom and anxiety – but closer to anxiety."

Metric 3: Meeting Promoter Score
"In the last minute of a meeting, ask the participants to each rate from 1 to 10 how effective the meeting was, with one suggestion for making the meeting better."

Metric 4: Compound Weekly Learning Rate
"The best leaders hold on to this relentless curiosity. Joi Ito wrote recently about “neotony”, the retention of childlike attributes in adulthood. This ability to learn is like the compounding interest on an investment: after two or three years, a relentless learner stands head and shoulders above his peers."

Metric 5: Positive Feedback Ratio
"...five times as many positive interactions as negative ones."

Five Management Metrics You Need to Know