August 16, 2008 

Greetings in the precious name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

     I hope that you are enjoying the summer.  Please use this time as a time of refreshment and renewal.  Before long we will be busy in the fall season.  Here are a few notes for your consideration.

Conference Youth Weekend in Ocean City = September 5 (Friday evening) to Sept. 7 (Sunday morning).     

      We met and discussed the weekend.  We have the ability to carry sleeping bags and we can “camp” in a church (which saves the cost of motels).  To attend we need to coordinate transportation to/from Ocean City.  Evening snacks will be provided.  We will have the ability to "ride the rides" as we did last year (at no cost to the youths or chaperones).  The ocean, boardwalk, hundreds of youths all make this a unique event.
     If you have high school boys and girls who wish to attend, they must register with the conference office 732-359-1000 and call our district office 973-571-0313.
     We could use some help with transporting the youths and we do need chaperones.
     This is a wonderful time of inspiration, fellowship, and spiritual growth.  Why not join us? 

Bishop Devadhar’s Visit to the Gateway North District = September 11, 2008    

            9:00 AM to 2:00 PM = Clergy Session at Epworth UMC in Elizabeth. 

 Note:  The committee on Superintendency will meet with Bishop Devadhar for dinner.
              7:30 PM  to 9:30 PM  = Laity Session – everyone is invited – at Roseland UMC.  Please bring your congregation for this wonderful time of worship, education and fellowship.

We will worship and dialogue with Bishop Devadhar.  We will do a memorial to those who have lost their lives in the 911 tragedies.
As part of the evening will be discussing the books that he recommended.  

For your information the two books that Bishop Devadhar spoke about in his Episcopal Address and wants the clergy and laity to read are:
Robert Schnase, Cultivating Fruitfulness: Five Weeks of Prayer and Practice for Congregations (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2008)  and

Michael W. Foss, From Members to Disciples: Leadership Lessons from the Book of Acts (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2007)

Bishop Devadhar would also encourage people to read Rueben P. Job, Three Simple Rules: A Wesleyan Way of Living (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2007) if they have not already done so.

Sexual Ethics Training:
     October 1, 2008 = Sexual Ethics Training Event.
     If you haven't attended the training presented by the annual conference, you are required to do so now.
     Please contact Rev. Varlyna Wright or her Administrative Assistance, April Castaldo at 732-359-1047 to register.

 Resource Day:

      October 22, 2008 = Resource Day.  The topic of "Clergy Health" with Rev. Ginny Samuels.

 Resource Day:

      November 12, 2008 = Resource Day.  The topic will be "Igniting our Ministry" with Rev. Larry Homitsky.

Shared Ministry Fund:

     Please ask your treasurer to keep up with monthly remittances.  By Labor Day we should have contributed at least 2/3 of the year's first-mile giving to the Shared Ministry Fund (as well as other financial obligations).  Are you sharing the news about how United Methodists are in ministry all over the world?  People give time, talent and treasure when they know that they are making a difference. 

Thank you for making a difference, in the name of Jesus Christ.

 Rev. Robert E. Costello
Gateway North District Superintendent
26 Montrose Avenue
Verona, NJ 07044
973-571-0313
gatewaynorth(at)gnjumc.org
www.gatewaynorthdistrict.org