Criteria for naming Acts 2 churches
Churches are invited to consider the criteria for being named an Acts 2 church in response to Bishop Al Gwinn's challenge to have 200 such churches recognized at Annual Conference. Criteria for determining Acts 2 churches and an application form have been completed to identify congregational initiatives and witness in four areas: Radical Hospitality, Passionate Worship, Intention Spiritual Formation, and Risk-Taking Mission and Ministry to the World. The deadline for having a completed form in the district office is April 15. Further information and an application form are available at: Acts 2 . An interactive form that can be completed and downloaded will be available in a few days.
A 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 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. 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.
Living life to the fullest!
An Annual day-a-way event for Older Adults and those who work with Older Adults is being sponsored by the NC Conference Committee on Older Adult Ministries. It will be held at Garner UMC on May 14. The theme for the day is "Living Life to the Fullest." The cost is $15.00 before the registration deadline of April 23. Ten different workshops will be offered. The day will also include music, storytelling, lunch, displays and a worship service. A brochure with all the details is available online: Adult Ministries .
Conference Christian Educators Fellowship to have retreat
The NC Conference chapter of the Christian Educators' Fellowship will participate in a 24-hour retreat April 15-16 at the Bergland Center at Camp Rockfish. Jo Elaine Harris, Raleigh District Missions pastor, will lead a discussion on Sabbath Times. The deadline for registration is March 31. A brochure is available on the conference website at CEF Retreat .
Christian music concert to benefit Methodist University
As part of Spring into Faith, Methodist University will present The David Crowder Band at the Crown Arena in Fayetteville, April 13 at 6pm. The band is nationally-recognized for its alternative worship music aimed at promoting social change through music. Proceeds from the concert will support campus ministry and mission projects of Methodist University. Tickets are available at www.ticketmaster.com or by phone at (910) 223-2900. For more information about the concert, call (910) 630-7062 or visit Public Events and click on April 13, Dave Crowder Band.
Persons desiring to serve on a conference board/agency must complete form.
Pastors and laypersons should complete the Nominations Form to be considered to serve on any conference commission, board or agency for the next four years. Eight continuous years on a board or agency is the maximum. Anyone currently on a board with more years of eligibility must also submit a form. Basically, no form, no service. Nominations should be for individuals with gifts, passion, and commitment to serve in a specific area. All forms must be signed - forms from laypersons must be signed by a pastor and forms from pastors must be signed by a district superintendent or another member of the Nominations Committee. The deadline for all forms to be in the Office of Connectional Ministries is March 21. Forms and information sheet can be downloaded from Nominations .
Disciple Bible Outreach Training for 2008
This year's DBOM DISCIPLE Bible Study training initiative continues in the NC Conference. The next events will be 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 .
Reminders about Annual Conference related deadlines
? The deadline for reports and other items to go in the Book of Reports is April 9.
? The deadline for Resolutions is May 12.
? Registration letter and information for conference members will be mailed out the around the first week in April.
Bishop Paup to head GBGM
United Methodist Bishop Edward Paup has been elected to lead the church's Board of Global Ministries, which oversees global missions and is the denomination's largest agency.
The election came March 11 during the board's spring meeting. He will assume the post of general secretary on Sept. 1. Until that time, Bishop Felton May will continue as the interim top executive. For more information: UM News .
ITEMS FROM THE OFFICE OF CHILDREN AND YOUTH
SMASH into Campus Ministry
The Wesley Foundation of Greenville is hosting an event know as "SMASH" for high school juniors and seniors on Thursday, April 10 from 6-8:30 p.m. SMASH stands for Students Making a Spiritual Home. The event will take place at the Methodist Student Center in Greenville, 501 East 5 th St. The event will include a free dinner at 6 p.m. and praise and worship following at 6:45 p.m. with a message given at 7:30 p.m. SMASH is designed to give high school students approaching college a sample of United Methodist campus ministry. Students interested in attending do not have to be planning to attend ECU or Pitt Community College, live in the Greenville area, or have to be a United Methodist to attend. For more information and to RSVP, there is a Facebook page set up - look under "SMASH! Into Campus Ministry." Contact Joy Weaver at jkw0827@ecu.edu for more information or with questions.
Let the Children Come .
resource event for local church leaders in children's ministry
The first resource event for local church leaders in children's ministry will be held on Saturday, April 10 at Salem UMC in Greenville from 9:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. The resource event will include worship and workshop options including use of the One Room curriculum, involving children in mission, selection of curriculum resources and church in partnership with families for the faith formation of children. There is no cost to attend the event and pre-registration is not required. Further details are available at Children Ministries . The second time this event will be held will be Saturday, Aug. 23 at Page Memorial UMC in Aberdeen. This resource event is specifically designed for volunteer leaders in medium to smaller size churches.
Rally Day
Conference Youth Rally Day will be Sunday, April 27 at NC Wesleyan College in Rocky Mount from 3-6 p.m. Youth groups and their adults leaders are invited to join in the fun, fellowship and worship. Worship will include leadership from the ECU Wesley Foundation Singers and Praise Team. Various youth will speak in the worship service. The Rally Day will begin with recreational activities. There is no need to pre-register for Rally Day and there is no cost to attend; however, there will be refreshments available for purchase and an offering for Youth Service Fund will be taken. More information about Rally Day is available at Rally Day .
ITEMS FROM THE OFFICE OF MISSIONS AND SOCIAL MINISTRIES
Sustainable Gardening Retreat and Learning Experience to be at Camp Chestnut Ridge
Clergy and laity are invited to join others at the event to break ground, worship, and learn while planting the first-acre of The Community Farm at Chestnut Ridge's Creation Care & Sustainable Gardening Retreat May 16-18. The weekend will include theological education and reflection as well as instruction in sustainable and organic gardening practices through the installation of new garden spaces at The Community Farm.
The retreat is open to all interested persons. Thanks to a generous grant from the Valparaiso Project, the cost of the weekend is only $40 per person, which includes two nights of lodging and five meals. Persons from partner churches (Efland, Union Grove, Chestnut Ridge and Cedar Grove UMCs) may register for $30 for the event. Register or get more information at: Community Farm .
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. Applications and guidelines are available online at: Restroom Grants .
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. 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 .
