Loading a Container for Zimbabwe
A container of supplies for Zimbabwe will be loaded at the MERCI Center in Goldsboro on Saturday morning, January 28. Your assistance is needed. Please join participants in this hands-on ministry of love for our brothers and sisters in Zimbabwe. For directions to MERCI, please see: http://www.nccumc.org/missions/contact_information.htm . If you, or a group from your church would be interested, please contact the ZOE office via email greg@zoeministry.org or telephone 919-550-0255.
Conference Advocate on its way, subscriptions welcome
The January/February edition of the North Carolina Conference Christian Advocate is being mailed this week to subscribers. Monthly editions of the 16-page tabloid newspaper will begin in March. Local church members are encouraged to subscribe and learn about ministries across the NC Conference. Current subscribers will be receiving renewal subscription forms shortly. The form is available on-line at: http://www.nccumc.org/docs/sbuscriptform.pdf
January is Project AGAPE month
January is Project AGAPE month, a time when we reflect and respond to the deep needs of our brothers and sisters in Armenia. Many there continue to struggle as refugees in the midst of destroyed houses and broken lives. Please continue to pray for the life offered by this ministry and consider an offering on some Sunday in January. Bulletin inserts have been mailed and are also available as a download at http://www.nccumc.org/missions/project_agape.htm. If you need assistance with either, please call Becky Biegger at: 800-849-4433 ext 256.
MERCI offers monthly Early Response Training
Early Response Training will be held at MERCI on February 3-4 from 7 pm Friday evening until about 2 pm on Saturday afternoon. Overnight and meals are $15, training (T-shirt/badge) is $15. Call or e-mail MERCI to sign up, a few spaces are still available. Other training dates at MERCI are March 3&4, April 7&8, May 5&6. (888-440-9167, merci@nccumc.org)
Symposium on Aging, Healthcare, and N.C. Law
Are you, a family member, or a friend entering the latter years of life? If so, this important presentation and discussion is for you. On Saturday, February 4, 9 am – 12 noon at Salem United Methodist Church, Haw River, there will be presentations and panel discussion on the following topics: Medicaid Benefits & Application Process; Legal Rights and Documents: Living Will, Health Care Power-of-Attorney, Power-of-Attorney; Estate Planning: Irrevocable and Revocable Trusts; and Dementia: Research & Treatment Plans. Registration is required. To register and for more information, please see: http://www.nccumc.org/missions/AgingHeathcare&theLaw.htm
Hurricane Housing Assistance Information
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has announced all Hurricane Katrina and Rita evacuees in the FEMA hotel/motel direct bill program will be subsidized by the federal program through at least February 7 as they continue to make longer-term housing arrangements. If you are ministering to persons in such circumstance, more information is available on the Missions web site at: http://www.nccumc.org/missions/fema_hotel_program.htm
Missionary Shana Harrison available for local church presentations
The Rev. Shana Harrison, missionary in Chile who serves at La Esperanza: Sheltered Workshop and Group Home, will be in North Carolina and can visit your church upon request February 10 - March 31. All Sunday mornings are booked; however, there are Sunday evening openings as well as many weekday opportunities. If you are interested in having Shana visit your congregation, UMW, UMM, Sunday School class or other, please contact Helen Little at: (919) 553-7631 or littleheleno5@worldnet.att.net .
Clergy Partner Retreat deadline is February 20
The Clergy Partner’s Retreat, March 17-18, will be held at the Embassy Suites Hotel – Crabtree in Raleigh. This overnight retreat offers opportunities for fellowship, spiritual growth, sharing, worship and singing and fun. The event is open to spouses of those currently serving in ministry, retired, widows or widowers, and for those entering clergy life. Catherine Guess, a published composer and an author of inspirational fiction, non-fiction, and children’s books, will be the guest speaker. Registration deadline is February 20. Full details and registration form: http://www.nccumc.org/doc/events/clergypartnrs.doc.
Duke Learning for Life upcoming events
“Women and the Word” Lay Academy of Religion begin on February 2, Clark Lectures February 15-16 with Dr. Victor Paul Furnish, and “Preaching, Teaching & Living the Bible” conference for clergy and laity will be held May 21-23. These are a few of the coming events offered through Learning for Life at the Duke Divinity School. More details and other events are available at http://www.divinity.duke.edu/learningforlife/
Confirmation Weekends at Lake Junaluska
The Intentional Growth Center at Lake Junaluska sponsors several Confirmation Weekends: A Time to Worship, A Time to Share, A Time to Learn. The dates for 2006 are Feb 10-12, 24-26; March 3-5, 10-12, 17-19, 24-26, 31-Apr 2; April 7-9, 21-23, 28-30; Nov. 10-12. More information and registration brochures are available by contacting 1-800-482-1442 or www.tigc.ws or email lbutters@sejumc.org.
Confirmation Celebration
The Conference Confirmation Celebration will be 10 am – 1 pm Saturday, March 11, at Garner UMC. The Confirmation Celebration will include exploration of the covenant vows of prayers, presence, gifts and service with leadership by various confirmation groups. The service activity will be putting together health kits for UMCOR through MERCI. Participants are asked to bring items necessary for the health kits. The Celebration will conclude with Holy Communion. Detailed information will be mailed to pastors in late January. Pre-registration to attend is not required and, while an offering will be taken, there is no cost to attend the event.
Microsoft FrontPage (web design) class offered
The Communications Office will be sponsoring a Microsoft FrontPage 2003 Class for beginners on Saturday, March 18, at the United Methodist Building in Raleigh, NC. This is a basic introductory class in Microsoft FrontPage 2003 which will cover design and publishing a simple website for a local church. The only requirement is that participants have basic computer skills. The class is available in a morning or afternoon session. The cost for registrations postmarked by February 10 is $35.00. For registrations postmarked February 11 up to the March 8 deadline, the cost is $40.00. Classes will feature hands-on participation with two students to each computer. Class size per session is limited to 20 students. Early registration is advised. For more information, visit http://www.nccumc.org/docs/events/frontpageclass.pdf
Journal on web, CD copies being completed
The 2005 NC Conference Journal is available on the conference website at http://journal.nccumc.org/. Copies of the Journal on CD are being completed and will be mail just as soon as they are ready.
The NC Hunger Summit - Cultivating Change & Growing a Solution
April 6-7 is when the NC Hunger Summit will be held at First Baptist Church of Raleigh. Workshops, discussions, networking opportunities and a message from keynote speaker Max Finberg, founder of The Alliance to End Hunger, will provide practical ways to fight against hunger. No matter if you are new to the fight or a seasoned professional, you will find something useful at this summit. For information please see: http://www.ncagr.com/paffairs/summit/2006NCHSSavetheDatePostcard.PDF
Youth Lay Speaker Training
Saturday, April 8, from 10 am to 4 pm at the United Methodist Building in Raleigh – a youth only lay speaker training will be held. Linda Harris, conference director of lay speaking will lead it. This will be the second annual youth only lay speaker training. Registrations are due by April 3. The registration form may be obtained from the Office of Youth Ministries or online at www.nccumc.org/youthministry. There is no cost to attend – lunch and all program materials will be provided.
Conference Youth Rally Day
Conference Youth Rally Day will be Sunday, April 23 at NC Wesleyan College in Rocky Mount from 3-6pm. Various recreational, fellowship activities will be provided and the Rally will conclude with a worship service. Youth groups are not required to pre-register to attend and there is no cost although an offering will be taken for Youth Service Fund and refreshments will be available for purchase. Youth groups may be in leadership at Rally Day by offering something within the worship service or by sponsoring one of the recreation activities. A mailing with details will be sent out to youth leaders and pastors in early February. Youth groups wishing to offer something to worship or sponsor an activity are asked to be in touch with the Office of Youth Ministries (800-849-4433) or email senicholson@nccumc.org.
Earthquake victims in Pakistan need assistance
Over 75,000 persons have been killed by the Pakistan earthquake. With winter here and hundreds of thousands without shelter, the crisis is cataclysmic. Your congregation can help our brothers and sisters who are suffering. Please give to UMCOR Advance #232000, Pakistan Earthquake. For more information please see: http://www.nccumc.org/missions/pakistan_earthquake.htm
The Robeson County Church and Community Center needs immediate help
The Robeson County Church and Community Center is at a serious juncture and is in danger of closing. In order to continue this critical ministry supported by the N.C. Annual Conference for over 30 years, a ministry with the poorest of our state, the ministry needs your immediate assistance. To give to this critical ministry, please give to Advance Special #791742-0. For more information, please call the Robeson County Church and Community Center, at 910-738-5204 or 5205. To see the latest newsletter and read a word from Rev. Jimmy Tatum, Board Chair, please see: http://www.nccumc.org/missions/rcc_&_cc_newsletter.htm.
SEJ UMVIM Newsletter is now on-line
Beginning in January, the Southeastern Jurisdiction United Methodist Volunteers In Missions (UMVIM) newsletter will be published on-line. You can read your happenings of SEJ UMVIM at: http://www.umvim.org/VIM_Newsletter.htm . If you would like to be notified by e-mail when a new issue is released, please contact landon_taylor@umvim.org. If you know persons who do not have an email address, and they, or you, would like to receive a paper copy of the UPDATE, please follow the directions provided in the current newsletter: http://www.umvim.org/TheUPDATE/2005-3rd.pdf Questions, contact UMVIM at 404-377-7424 or email sejinfo@umvim.org.
Rainbow Covenant due, forms available
Local church Rainbow Covenant data was due January 16 to your District Mission Secretary. Forms were mailed to all pastors and mission chairs in December, 2005. Forms can also be found in the 2006 Mission and Service Commitment booklet and on our website: http://www.nccumc.org/missions/rainbow_covenant.htm . After going to the website, scroll down the page and then click on the link that reads: To Download NC Conference 2005 Rainbow Covenant Report Form, click here! Please remember, to be a Rainbow Covenant church, a local congregation must first pay World Service & Connectional Ministries; Episcopal Fund; Interdenominational Cooperation, Black Colleges, Africa University Fund; and Past Service Liability in full, and then make a gift to one ADVANCE SPECIAL from each lane of the Rainbow Covenant. If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact Becky Biegger:beckybiegger@nccumc.org or call 800-849-4433 ext 256.
Operation Classroom – Ganta UM Mission Station, Liberia
Donations of vocational training materials are being sought by Operation Classroom, a United Methodist mission program working in Liberia and Sierra Leone. The materials would be used in a program at the denomination’s Ganta Mission Station in Liberia designed to train participants in basic vocational trades of auto and diesel mechanics, electricity rafting, cabinet making, carpentry, building construction, welding and plumbing. You can make a difference. For more information, please see: http://www.nccumc.org/missions/operation_classroom.htm
Liberian Annual Conference has a website
See the wonderful ministries being done by our brothers and sisters in Liberia through their website at: http://www.liberiaumc.org/index.htm You can also read about the wonderful ministry of the Ganta Mission Station at http://gbgm-umc.org/umcor/05/ganta.cfm and http://www.nccumc.org/missions/liberia.htm
Join in feeding your hungry neighbor with Society of St. Andrew
You, your family, or church, with members from 3 to 93, can get involved with a great hands-on ministry opportunity accomplished in a field in NC. The Society of St. Andrew can make this mission a reality and help feed our neighbors who are the most vulnerable. Please contact Society of St. Andrew at: sosanc@endhunger.org or call (866) 453-2662. See their web site at: http://www.endhunger.org/north_carolina.htm . Please give to NC Advance, (#S-00081) and see the Rainbow Covenant for more information. http://www.nccumc.org/missions/nc_conference.htm
Mozart Adevu is one of our newest missionaries
Mozart Adevu serves in western Africa as an agriculturalist who proclaims the love and grace of Jesus by assisting indigent farmers in learning how to grow their way out of deep and crippling poverty. He is currently working with our Liberian ministries at Ganta and the surrounding villages. You can read about Mozart at: Mozart Adevu – Bio. To assist him in this wonderful ministry, place an Advance gift in your church’s offering plate and mark it Missionary Support – Advance # 13996-Z. You can also enter a Covenant Relationship with Mozart. Please see: Covenant Relationships.
Office of Missions offers local church training, support
The Office of Missions is willing to come to your church and provide mission presentations, support, training, sermons, etc. This includes providing you with the Poverty Simulation, a two hour session where you can “experience” what it is to live the life of our neighbors who are the “working poor.” Contact Steve at staylor@nccumc.org or Becky at beckybiegger@nccumc.org or call the Office of Missions at: 800-849-4433 ext 256.
