Representatives from several major religious groups have collaborated to publish a new edition of "Hunger No More," a packet of educational materials designed for congregations.

Developed by Bread for the World Institute, it is supported by the major Protestant denominations, U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger.

The new resource follows the group’s collaboration on "Hunger No More: Decisions 2002." The United Methodist Committee on Relief sponsored both editions.

The new edition is designed to help congregations start a long-term discussion about hunger, poverty and powerless in the world. The study encourages people to have conversations about their faith with prayerful reflection, dialogue and response to better understand how to move closer to eliminating hunger.

The complete "Hunger No More" package is $5 and can be ordered from Bread for the World at http://www.bread.org or downloaded at http://hungernomore.org

For more information contact Shawnda Eibl at 202-639-9400, extension 264.

People doing research on church history have a new tool—an index to information about clergy and spouses of the United Methodist Church’s predecessor denominations stretching back to the 1700s.

The 2003 CD version of the Conference Journal Memoirs Index contains about 97,000 entries drawn from pre-1968 conference journals held by the United Methodist Commission on Archives and History at its offices at Drew University in Madison, N.J. The indexed material extends from about 1786 to 1967, according to archivist L. Dale Patterson. He said the database was designed as an index to resources, not as a resource itself.

Sources that contributed information are the Methodist Episcopal Church; Methodist Protestant Church; the Methodist Episcopal Church, South; the Evangelical Association/Church; the United Brethren in Church; the United Evangelical Church; the Methodist Church; and the Evangelical United Brethren Church.

The CD may be ordered for $10, including shipping and handling, from the General Commission on Archives and History, P.O. Box 127, Madison, NJ 07940. An order form is posted at http://www.gcah.org/list.htm and more details are available at research@gcah.org.

The United Methodist General Board of Discipleship (GBOD) has posted a song leader directory to its worship and music Web site. People listed in the directory have identified themselves as available to lead singing for worship, annual conferences, church revivals, convocations, workshops and other special meetings. Areas of specialty are also listed.

The GBOD does not endorse or recommend anyone on the list. It is provided as a service to United Methodist churches, which are asked to contact the individuals directly.

For more information visit http://www.umcworship.org.

The weekend set aside for Children’s Sabbath is Oct. 17-19.

The theme this year is "Providing What God Requires and Children Need: Justice, Kindness and Faith." Sponsored by the Children’s Defense Fund, the event provides a variety of resources for recognizing the special place children have in society and the church’s role as a faith community to nurture them.

The Children’s Defense Fund has developed a resource guide that includes materials for planning sermons, resources for worship, ideas for activities, ways to get involved, lesson plans and more.

Churches that already have an event scheduled for this year’s date may celebrate the Children’s Sabbath at any time.

For more information call 1-800-305-9857 or e-mail SCorders@gbgm-umc.org.

Epworth Elderhostel will be offering Charles and John Wesley Study and Choral Music Workshops March 7-12 at Epworth by the Sea, the Methodist Conference Center for the South Georgia Conference.

The cost is $455, which includes room, board and programming costs.

"The Wesleys in Colonial Georgia" will examine the life of John Wesley, emphasizing his work in Georgia from Savannah to St. Simons Island. Participants can spend a day in Savannah to see where Wesley landed and served the new colony, as well as discover where he lived and ministered during a St. Simons Tour.

The Rev. R. Harold Hipps, who has spent 25 years on the staff of the General Board of Education of the Methodist Church, will lead the study.

A second course will explore hymns of the faith, including many written by Charles Wesley. Participants will study hymn texts and join in group singing. The Rev. Ken Fansler and director Mary Lu Norris will lead.

For questions about the programs contact Cindy Doehring at 912-638-8688 or cdoehring@epworthbythesea.org.