New Albany District UMW

In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:15-17

Candle Burning is a very special part of The Mississippi Conference Service of Remembrance
and Honor. Funds raised to remember or to honor an individual publically express our love for that person. By the light of the candle, we support mission work around the world. The donors are to be commended for showing love in action."
Each year at the Mississippi Conference Annual Meeting, the Candle Burning service is
presented. The New Albany District raised $1647.19 for this fund raiser for mission. This was the second highest amount raised in the entire conference. Our part of the candle burned for 57
minutes. Each minute that the candle burned represented a donation of $28.92. Each donation
was in honor or in memory of someone. The Conference total was $13499.06 and the candle burned 8 hours and 18 minutes.
What is Candle Burning and how can a local unit of United Methodist Women get involved in this project? The purpose of this note is to answer this question and urge each unit to take part.

WHAT IS CANDLE BURNING?

The Candle Burning service at Annual Meeting is the culmination of the efforts of local units
within the district and districts within the conference. At the 2011 meeting, eleven districts
presented money that each local unit within the district had raised for the purpose of honoring and remembering persons near and dear to the hearts of each group. Contributions were given in the following categories: In Honor of Individuals, In Memory of Loved Ones, In Honor of Children, In Memory of Children, and for Mission Minute Persons"'. $28.92 per minute was the cost for each minute thot the candle burned. Monies can be collected in the following ways:

• $5 is the minimum amount to pay for each person being honored.

• Should you want to only pay $5 to honor your children or grandchildren, this can be done as
a group, but individual names will not be listed. The listing would read: "In honor of the
grandchildren or children of (your name). If you want individual names to be listed you must
pay $5 per name.

• By donating $28.92 for one person to be honored, you will be naming them a "Mission Minute
Person." This person will receive a special recognition pin.

• All those honored will receive a certificate from the MS Conference UMW.

The theme of the Candle Burning Service is announced each January for the displays to be
made in your local church and at the Annual Meeting. The Presidents of each district receive this information in their packets of information they receive from the Conference officers at the beginning of each year. The theme for the 2012 displays is "Wild Flowers."

HOW CAN A LOCAL UNIT OF UMW GET INVOLVED IN CANDLE BURNING
PROJECT?

Each local unit should discuss this project and decide if they want to participate. This should be
done at the January meeting of the unit or as early in the year as possible. Should the local unit decide to pursue the project, the group will need to make a display on a trifold presentation board that can be acquired at any office supply store. Using the theme appropriate for the year, the board should be decorated to present the theme and have a place on the board for all those persons honored or memorialized or who are Mission Minute persons within the local unit. The display board will be placed in a spot in each local church where church members can review the board. A money jar and a book for persons to record those being honored/memorialized and the name of the donor should also be available. A representative from the UMW group will need to announce the project along with instructions at morning services of the local church. The period of time that donations will be taken should also be announced. As soon as moneys are collected and names of honorees and donors are available, a report should be made. Money should be sent to the district treasurer marked for "Candle Burning." Names of honorees and donors in each category should be sent both to the Conference and District E&I.

 

Printable version of the above

Suggested Candle Burning Timeline

Local Mission Today Unit Report

 

Current Mission Studies for 2011-2012

Geographic - Haiti:  Challenges and Hope

Spiritual Growth Study:  The Journey: Forgiveness, Restorative Justice and Reconciliation

Topical Study:  Joy to the World!:  Mission in the Age of Global Christianity

(This is the second year for the Joy to the World Study)

 

Mission Study Report Form