SUMMER WILL BE HERE BEFORE YOU KNOW IT - PLAN AHEAD FOR YOUR 2008 SCHOOL OF CHRISTIAN MISSION EXPERIENCE!

Dates and locations have been finalized for the 2008 Detroit Conference School of Christian Mission, so you can schedule these events now, before your calendar for 2008 gets too crowded.  Additional details, deadlines, and costs will follow in the registration flyer; registrar for the first two events is Betty Thomas, 313-561-4792.

The one-day School of the South will take place on Saturday, July 26, at First United Methodist Church in Howell.  You can check out this facility at http://www.gbgm-umc.org/howell.

The Two-Day School will be held at the Lake Huron Retreat Center on Friday and Saturday, August 15-16.  Location and lodging information for this United Methodist facility can be found online at www.lakehuronretreat.org.

Gaylord United Methodist Church will again host the School of the North, this year on Monday and Tuesday, October 20-21.  Check out Gaylord UMC’s web site at http://fumcgaylord.org.  Registrar is Mona Dye, 231-864-3785.

This year’s School of Christian Mission theme is “Living the Sacred,” and the three studies will be:

“I Believe in Jesus” (Spiritual Growth Study)

This study deals with four key components, namely (a) the gift of faith in Jesus Christ, (b) the meaning of faith in Jesus, (c) whose faith counts and (d) faith in Jesus in a post-modern world.  Knowing Jesus is not the task of a select few, but rather the work of the people of God.  This study will affirm our understanding that the witness of Jesus, as someone who loved all persons, must be the model of our discipleship.  Linda Schramm will lead this study  for all three events. 

“Giving Our Hearts Away: Native American Survival” (Issue Study)

The purposes of this study are to learn about the inter-relatedness between indigenous peoples and their land; to identify selected key issues affecting Native Americans in the United States and to examine the root causes of these issues; to understand and appreciate the “Give Away” culture of the Native Americans in the areas of spirituality, ecology, language, storytelling and food; and to lead the participants to act as responsible U.S. citizens and Christians in accompaniment and solidarity with Native Americans.  Study leader for July 26 to be determined; leaders for August 15-16 are the Rev. Dr. Theresa Little Eagle Sayles and Genie Bank; Rev. Dr. Sayles will also lead the study for the School of the North.

“Israel and Palestine” (Geographic Study)

The purpose of this study, now in its second year, is to help participants to learn about the history and complexities of relationships between Israel and Palestine by exploring the concepts of security and freedom that dominate the lives of these peoples. Because history is so inextricably bound to the reality in these nations today, Israel - Palestine: A Mission Study for 2007-2008, by Stephen Goldstein, Study Guide by Sandra Olewine, focuses on that history.  Rev. Ann Emerson will lead this study on July 26; Diane Allarding will be the study leader for August 15-16 and again for October 20-21.

Kay Mowery, Publicity Director

Detroit Conference School of Christian Mission Team

810-686-6325

Note:  If you need additional information, please feel free to contact me.