Nomination form must be completed to serve on conference board/agency
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. 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 Friday, March 21. Forms and information sheet can be downloaded from Nominations .
GBOD wants to know your thoughts on music and worship
The General Board of Discipleship has posted a survey about the current hymnal (The United Methodist Hymnal, 1989) and some common practices related to congregational worship and singing. Pastors, musicians, laity, children, youth, adults are invited to complete the survey. The responses will be used in planning future resources in the areas of congregational worship and music. The survey will be available online from March 17 - 30. In order to maintain the integrity of the survey, only one response per computer will be accepted. It is important NOT to log in to the survey until you are ready to complete it in one session (it takes about 15 minutes) since you will not be able to access the survey once you have exited. Go to www.gbod.org/hymnal to complete this survey. Please share this invitation with members of your congregation and other United Methodists.
The United Methodist Church of Resurrection to present Awards of Excellence
The United Methodist Church of Resurrection is accepting nominations for three Awards of Excellence, recognizing churches which have experienced significant growth in both the width and depth of their ministries. Nominees must have a pastor or church staff that attended a past Leadership Institute who is able to articulate how implementing a principle or idea presented at the Institute inspired them in creating a vital fellowship community. Criteria includes proportionately significant growth in average worship attendance; outreach to the non-religious and nominally religious people, active engagement with the local community, and programs, ideas or processes that could be repeated by other churches. For eligibility requirements and to access an application form visit: Leadership Institute . Deadline for nominations is May 16.
Assistance available to attend African-American leadership event
The African-American Clergy Leadership Development event will be April 7-9 at Lake Junaluska , The event is designed for African-American clergy and will provide tools for unique opportunities and challenges of being an African-American in ministry . The event will utilize a retreat and life coaching model that will inspire and empower. Leadership for the event is provided by the Dr. Jim Robey, executive director of Attentional Growth Center of the North Alabama Conference, along with Dr. Carl Arrington, director of African American Ministries for the Southeastern Jurisdiction.
The North Carolina Conference Academy for Leadership Development will pay the program registration fee for the first ten persons who wish to attend this event, plus a $50 grant for lodging. Send your request by e-mail to Dr. Irene Brownlee, executive director of the Academy, ibrownlee@nccumc.org . For a brochure, schedule, and registration information, click on SEJ Ministries or call 828-454-6681.
CPI appl ication deadline approaching
Comprehensive Plan of Inclusiveness grant applications are due on March 31 by 4 p.m. (if hand-delivered) or must be postmarked by March 31. No faxed applications will be considered. Applications are available in the "downloads" section on the conference Multicultural and Social Ministries website. New and innovative ministries will get strong consideration. For further information call Lawrence E. Johnson in the Multicultural office (919-832-9560).
Living Life to the Fullest!
The NC Conference Committee on Older Adults is sponsoring the Annual day-a-way event for Older Adults and those who work with Older Adults. 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 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: Living Life to the Fullest .
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 Call to Sabbath .
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 6 p.m. 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 Events Calendar .
Alban Institute at Lake Junaluska , April 13-16, 2008
The Lake J unaluska Ministry Team has developed a new partnership with the Alban Institute to provide an exciting new learning and leadership event at Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center . The April 2008 Alban Institute at Lake Junaluska event theme is " Leading Your Congregation: Health, Holiness, and Hospitality" . The facilitator will be Ed White, an Alban Senior Consultant. CEU credits are available upon request. For more information about this event and the topics to be explored, go to April Alban Institute . Click here for Event Registration .
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.
ITEMS FROM THE CHILDREN AND YOUTH OFFICE
Appalachian Trail Hike
One of the Conference youth events available to senior high youth is the Appalachian Trail Hike. The Trail Hike will take place July 12-19 and involves a 50 +/- mile backpacking hike along the Appalachian Trail . There are a limited number of spaces for the Trail Hike so registering early is advised. The registration deadline is June 6 and the 2008 Youth Events brochure contains the registration form. The Youth Events brochure is available at Youth Ministry .
Pilgrimage
Pilgrimage will be Nov. 7-9 at the Crown Coliseum. Youth interested in auditioning for the house band must submit an application by Aug. 31. Applications are available upon request from Sue Ellen Nicholson at senicholson@nccumc.org . Youth groups desiring to offer an act of worship on stage during the event must make that offer (with a brief description of the act of worship) by Aug. 31 - that offer is made via e-mail to senicholson@nccumc.org . Any youth desiring to offer a testimony at Pilgrimage must submit the testimony in writing to Youth Ministry, PO Box 10955 , Raleigh , NC 27605 or e-mail the information to senicholson@nccumc.org by Aug. 31. Youth groups may also provide a DVD or video to be shown at Pilgrimage by Aug. 31 with the following requirements: must utilize the full youth group, be no longer than 5 minutes in length, interpret the Pilgrimage theme: Pass It On, and have good visual and audio quality. The DVD/video must be sent to Youth Ministry, PO Box 10955 , Raleigh , NC 27605 .
ITEMS FROM THE OFFICE OF MISSIONS AND SOCIAL CONCERNS
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
Project AGAPE Vehicle Need
Several congregations in the NC Conference have joined in an effort to provide Project AGAPE with a new vehicle for the work of refugee relief. There is a donor willing to match a large portion of the vehicle cost. To join this important facet of the AGAPE Advance, please send donations to the Missions Office, 1307 Glenwood Ave. , Raleigh , 27605. Please note on the check - AGAPE Vehicle. One hundred percent of the offering will go to this effort.
Robeson County Church and Community Center needs assistance
T he Church and Community Center serves the nation's 2nd most diverse rural county and the 3 rd most impoverished county of its size in the U.S. Grant funding is down, leaving the Center in very difficult financial times. Please consider making a donation through the local church offering. Please note on the check: Robeson County Church and Community Center - Advance #7917428.
UMCOR Sager Brown: kit supplies are low
UMCOR's relief supply warehouse, Sager Brown Depot in Baldwin , LA , is requesting help to provide bedding, sewing and layette kits that are urgently needed for Armenia , Azerbaijan and Georgia .
Sager Brown is especially requesting donations to build 33,000 layette kits, 64,000 sewing kits and 1,000 bedding kits to meet upcoming needs for 2008. The Sager Brown Depot will accept complete kits as well as bulk items. Please visit UMCOR's Relief Supplies web page to learn about the specific kit contents, the estimated value, the cost for processing and shipping, as well as shipping instructions. Please give generously to Material Resources, UMCOR Advance #901440.
Church & Society - Social Concerns Listserv
A Church & Society/Social Concerns listserv is being created. Each local church is asked to provide the name and e-mail address of the congregation's Church & Society coordinator. Also, anyone interested can participate in the listserv by providing name and e-mail address. Multiple names from a single congregation are welcome. Names and e-mail addresses should be sent to Becky Biegger at beckybiegger@nccumc.org with the email subject line "Church & Society Listserv."
Caring for Creation - A Conference to Build Congregational Capacity to Care for God's Creation April 3-6 - Congregations have an opportunity to discover how to help care for this earth through this gathering at the Lake Junaluska Retreat Center, sponsored by the United Methodist Women. There will be presentations by Bishop Ken Carder, Fr. Thomas Berry, and others. For more registration and more information please see: Caring for our Creation.
PBS Special on Liberia
The United Methodist Church has been active in Liberia since 1833 when Melville Cox from Edenton Street UMC landed in Liberia and began ministry there. Wednesday, March 19, at 10 p.m., PBS will broadcast a special called "Iron Ladies of Liberia." The time and/or date can vary in some areas so check broadcast schedules. The program will place individuals face to face with Liberia 's progress, realities, hopes, and challenges. Thanks for all your help in assisting the UMC Liberia with its various ministries and in assisting conference missionaries, Herbert and Mary Zigbuo.
