Conference on Hearing Accessibility to be held
The conference Committee on Disability Concerns will sponsor a conference for clergy and laity about hearing accessibility on May 31 from 10am - 3pm at Garner UMC in Garner. Registration is required by May 23. An early bird registration fee of $15 is for those who sign up by May 1. After May 1, the registration fee goes up to $20. Lunch is included in the registration fee. Call John Crowe at (919) 759-2146 to learn more about this event and find out how to sign up. Click on NCC Mental Health for more information.
Disciple Bible Outreach Training for 2008
This year's DBOM DISCIPLE Bible Study training initiative schedule has now been set. Training events in the NC Conference will take place in the following districts: Feb. 16: Sanford District -St. Luke UMC; May 10: Rocky Mount District - Nashville UMC; May 17: Durham District - McMannen UMC; and May 24: Elizabeth City District - First UMC: EC. Training in all four levels of DISCIPLE Bible Study and the RINGS OF FELLOWSHIP youth study will be provided at these events. The event is free to all lay and clergy persons. Lunch will be provided for a small fee. Registration is required. For more details and to register, click on DBOM .
Observe Methodist Home for Children Sunday on February 17
MHC Sunday should be observed on Feb. 17 or another appropriate Sunday. Offerings taken during the observance will support the work of the Methodist Home for Children with youth, children, and families in their group homes, through their foster care and adoption services, family-based counseling services, and childcare services. Call Jennifer Cooper at 800-305-4321 ext. 305 or jcooper@mhfc.com to get materials or to reserve a speaker for the observance. Visit www.mhfc.org for additional information on the ministry of the Methodist Home for Children.
Need something mentioned in a past issue of News Briefs?
Misplaced a News Briefs issue or forgotten an event deadline included in an issue? Back issues are posted on the conference website at Publications . Back issues of NC Christian Advocates, the Journal, and other publications are also on the site.
Christian Educators to meet in Fayetteville
The Sanford/Fayetteville/Rockingham CEF Networking Group will meet at Salem UMC, 2165 Middle Road Fayetteville on Feb. 28 from 10 am - noon. Topics of discussion will include: VBS tips and ideas; Pentecost and Mother's Day - how to plan for both on the same Sunday; and GBOD Discipleship Plan - how congregations develop intentional discipleship. Everyone who works with children, youth or adults in spiritual formation is invited to attend this meeting. For questions or more information, call Dorothy Funkhouser at (910) 484-0181, ext 307 or (910) 495-5503.
February is Advocate Month
A poster with subscription forms for use in celebrating Advocate Month was mailed in December to local church lay leader addresses from the On Line Data Collection System. The lay leader was asked to use the poster or to give the material to the Advocate representative if one was elected. If the poster did not reach the lay leader or if an additional posted is needed, e-mail or call LeeAnne Thornton at lbthornton@nccumc.org or Linda Smith at lsmith@nccumc.org or telephone either at 1-800-849-4433.
One Great Hour of Sharing
One Great Hour of Sharing (OGHS) is scheduled for March 2. This is the one time each year set aside to raise operational funding for United Methodist relief activities. UMCOR receives no World Service funds or any other apportionments. The special offering enables UMCOR to keep its promise that 100 percent of your designated gifts goes entirely to specific causes. One Great Hour of Sharing means UMCOR will provide hands-on care for persons caught in the effects of storms, war, disaster and disease. Often UMCOR is the first to arrive on the scene and the last to leave. UMCOR's ministry is all over God's wonderful world. We are UMCOR. Please provide an opportunity for congregations to take part in this critical offering. For sermon illustrations, children's sermons, stories, and other OGHS information, please see: One Great Hour of Sharing .
Christian Concert to benefit Methodist University
On Sunday, April 13 Methodist University is sponsoring the David Crowder Band in concert at the Crown Coliseum in Fayetteville. Individual and group tickets go on sale this month (February). Proceeds from the concert support campus ministry and mission projects of Methodist University. Contact the University Relations and Campus Ministry Office at Methodist University to find out how to purchase tickets:910.630.7515; www.methodist.edu .
FROM THE CONFERENCE SECRETARY'S OFFICE
Deadline for submitting resolutions to Annual Conference is May 12
The deadline for resolutions to be considered during the 2008 Annual Conference must be in the Office of the Conference Secretary no later than Monday, May 12. Submit your report electronically, if possible, to Shannon Medlin at smedlin@nccumc.org in either MS Word or WordPerfect format. Call Shannon Medlin at 1-800-849-4433, ext. 222 if you have questions.
Deadline for submitting reports for 2008 AC program book has been changed
The deadline for the 2008 Program Recommendations and Reports is noon on April 9. The Conference Secretary's office, however, strongly urges persons submitting reports to please make an effort to turn reports in before April 9 to allow time for compiling and editing the book. Submit your report electronically, if possible, to Shannon Medlin at smedlin@nccumc.org in either MS Word or WordPerfect format. Because of the tight deadline, there will not be time to make changes or corrections. Call Shannon Medlin at 1-800-849-4433, ext. 222 if you have questions.
FROM THE CONFERENCE TREASURER'S OFFICE
Property and Casualty Insurance Workshop
The Conference Board of Trustees will sponsor a workshop on Sunday, Feb. 24, 3 p.m. at Centenary UMC in New Bern on local church property and casualty insurance. The workshop will cover topics such as property and casualty insurance in general as well as the special risk factors facing local churches. Intentional focus will be given to risk factors facing coastal congregations. All pastors, trustees chairpersons, and anyone interested in insurance issues and risks facing local congregations are encouraged to attend.
The meeting will be led by representatives from the United Methodist Property and Casualty Trust (PACT). PACT is an all-lines (including Worker's Compensation) nonprofit insurance trust that is owned by its member United Methodist annual conferences, agencies and local churches. For more information on PACT or this workshop, please contact the Conference Treasurer's Office at (800) 849-4433.
Registration Open for Spring Retirement Seminar
The NC Conference Board of Pension will host its annual Spring Retirement Planning Seminar on April 3-4, at the Hilton Wilmington Riverside Hotel. If you are considering retirement in the next 6 months - 3 years, this event will include vital information for you. Topics will include legal and financial planning, information regarding your pension and insurance benefits after retirement, and preparation for lifestyle and relationship changes. Download a copy of the brochure and registration form at the Conference Treasurer's website by clicking on Registration . Registrations are due by March 3. If you have questions or need further information, email JoAnna Cafferty at jcafferty@nccumc.org or call 1-800-849-4433, ext. 225.
CHILDREN AND YOUTH MINISTRIES
Confirmation Celebration
The Conference Confirmation Celebration will be Saturday, March 8, at Methodist University in Fayetteville. Confirmands and their adult leaders are invited to the celebration to consider our connection as United Methodists; the covenant membership vows of prayer, presence, gifts and service; to hear from Bishop Gwinn; to share in the sacrament of Holy Communion and to be sent forth on the lifelong journey of Christian faith and discipleship. For the service project, confirmands are asked to bring items for UMCOR health kits as well as money for an offering. New for 2008 - the Confirmation Celebration will include lunch at the dining hall of Methodist University so pre-registration of the group number is required and there will be a cost of $7 per person. The registration deadline is Monday, February 25. To register group name, contact information and number in group is needed. A registration form is available with other detail information for the Confirmation Celebration at www.nccumc.org/youthministry or by calling the Office of Youth Ministries at 1-800-849-4433 x252.
"Let the Children Come"
Two resource events for leaders in local church children's ministry will be offered in 2008: Saturday, April 19 at Salem UMC-Greenville and Saturday, Aug.23 at Page Memorial UMC-Aberdeen. Each event will run from 9:45am to 12:15pm.There is no cost to the event and pre-registration is not required. In addition to worship, four workshop options will be offered. These resource events in particular are directed toward leaders in children's ministry from medium to smaller size churches. More information about these events may be found at Children Events .
Conference Youth Rally Day
Youth Rally Day will be Sunday, April 27 at NC Wesleyan College in Rocky Mount from 3-6pm. Youth groups are invited to enjoy the time of recreation, fellowship and worship. The ECU Wesley Foundation Praise Team and Wesley Singers will provide music. Youth groups are invited to sponsor recreational activities or offer an act of worship. The youth group of Northwoods UMC will provide a prayer labyrinth. There is no cost to Rally Day (although refreshments will be available for purchase and an offering will be taken for Youth Service Fund) and groups do not need to pre-register to attend. More information about Rally Day can be found at Youth Ministry .
MISSIONS AND SOCIAL CONCERNS
Response to Recent Tornado Outbreak
The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) and its regional church partners are responding as rapidly as conditions allow to tornadoes that struck five southern states on Feb. 5.
Early response United Methodist teams were involved in debris cleanup on the afternoon of Feb. 7 in areas that were open to volunteer workers. Donations to assist with relief efforts in the wake of the early February tornadoes can be made to UMCOR in a variety of ways. Indicate Advance #901670 and "Super Tuesday Tornadoes ." Give online by going to www.givetomission.org and entering the Advance number, by phone using a credit card at (888) 252-6174, or by check sent to Advance GCFA, P.O. Box 9068, GPO New York, NY 10087-9068. Contributions may be placed in the offering plate of any United Methodist congregation.
With regard to NC Conference Early Response Teams: UMCOR has said, at this time, there has not been a call for ERTs from outside the affected Annual Conferences. If the call for external teams comes, it will be coordinated through the SEJ VIM office, who will then notify the conference missions office. Steve Taylor , staylor@nccumc.org , conference missions director, will issue updates when available.
Peace with Justice grants deadline is February 28
The deadline to apply for the General Board of Church & Society Peace with Justice grants is Feb. 28. GBCS grants help local churches and organizations advocate and establish social justice ministries. For more information on the application process and for the criteria, go to www.umc-gbcs.org .
Restroom Accessibility Grants are available
Due to a generous grant by the Duke Endowment, restroom accessibility grant requests for rural churches are now being accepted. Grant applications must be received by March 31, 2008. Applications and guidelines are available online at: Restroom Grants
Nominations being received for the Crum Award for Prophetic Ministry
The Conference Commission on Church and Society is receiving nominations for the 2008 Jack and Kay Crum Award for Prophetic Ministry. Deadline for receiving this information is Feb.18. To nominate a church, send a narrative description of the ministry to staylor@nccumc.org and to beckybiegger@nccumc.org . For information about this award, call Becky Biegger at 1-800-849-4433, ext. 256.
Ecumenical Advocacy Days - Gathering for Empowerment and Prophetic Justice
As people of faith and hope, we believe our nation is entering - and must enter -- an era of renewal and re-creation. The 2008 Ecumenical Advocacy Days assembly on March 7-10 will explore new visions of security in our homes, neighborhoods, nation and world. All sessions Friday through Sunday will be held at the Hilton Alexandria Mark Center located across the Potomac River from Washington, DC, in Alexandria, VA. Monday, Lobby Day, events will be located at the Lutheran Church of the Reformation . You can register on-line at: MailScanner has detected a possible fraud attempt from "mail.nccumc.org" claiming to be www.advocacydays.org. The student/Seminarian rate is $130 until Feb.15 when it raises to $150. General registration is $160 until February 15 when it will increase to $175. Be sure to register you and/or your group early. Reservations: Call (877) 783-8258 or (800) 445-8667 Hilton Alexandria Mark Center Hotel 5000 Seminary Road Alexandria, VA 22311.
Caring for Creation symposium to be held at Lake Junaluska
Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center and the United Methodist Women of the SEJ are offering the third Creation for Creation experience at Lake Junaluska, April 3-6, 2008. Leadership for this experience will offer challenges and directions for what individuals can do to take better care of their home - Earth. The workshops will present practical information for action and will open new avenues for participants whether persons are interested in what the Biblical challenge is about care for the earth or inexpensive solar solutions for home or church. For more information about the leadership, schedule, or registration, go to Caring for Creation .
