Resources available for Black History month
Black History month resources are available to borrow from the NC Conference Media Center. There are books and videos to help churches celebrate and educate during the month of February. All three videos created as a part of the Strengthening the Black Church in the 21rst Century Initiative are available: “Legacy of Faith” I and II and “Life Transformation in the Black Church” A complete list of suggested resources is available on the Media Center webpage http://www.nccumc.org/media-center/index.htm, or contact Laura Bailey, Media Center Director. llbailey@nccumc.org ; toll free 800.849.4433 ext 264 or 832-9560
Early Response Training will be held at MERCI
Early Response Training will be held at MERCI on Feb. 3-4 from 7 pm Friday to about 2 pm on Saturday. Overnight and meals are $15, training (T-shirt/badge) is $15. Call or email 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 or http://nccmission.org/merci_center.htm
Symposium on Aging, Healthcare, and N.C. Law
On Saturday, February 4, 9 am – 12 pm at Salem United Methodist Church, Haw River, there will be presentations and panel discussion on the following topics: Medicaid Benefits & Application Process; Medicare Part B Prescription Plan; 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. There will be many experts on-hand to answer questions and enter into discussion on these issues. Registration is required. To register and for more information, please see: http://nccmission.org/AgingHealthcare&theLaw.htm
Camp Sunday bulletin Inserts
Bulletin inserts for Camp Sunday, February 5, have been mailed to requesting churches. If participating churches have not received them, contact Wray Stephens (wray@ncumcamps.org. If a church failed to request them, there are some available and can still be sent to arrive on Friday, just contact Wray Stephens.
Advocate material deadline is February 6
February 6, 12 noon, is the deadline for materials to be considered for the March edition of the North Carolina Conference Christian Advocate. Send articles and photographs (digital large format, at least 300 dpi) to bnorton@nccumc.org. If you have questions, call Bill Norton or LeeAnne Thornton at 1-800-849-4433.
Christian Educators Fellowship meeting
Any Christian educator, program director, or staff in various age level ministries are invited to the monthly meeting of the Christian Educators Fellowship on Thursday, February 9. The meeting will be held at the Cokesbury store on North Market Dr in Raleigh. Gather for lunch at the Red Lobster on the corner of N Market Dr and Old Wake Forest Rd from 1-2pm and then the program at Cokesbury will be from 2 - 3:30 pm. CEF typically meets the second Thursday of each month from 12:30-2:30pm with bring your own lunch and a program, usually at the Methodist Building in Raleigh. More information about CEF is available at the
Conference website under Christian Education Ministries.
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.
Dr. Terry Teykl conference
The Fayetteville District and the Rockfish Outdoor Center invite you on a retreat with Dr. Terry Teykl, February 19-20, at the Bergland Center at Rockfish Outdoor Center in Parkton. Space is limited. Early registration is encouraged. A printable brochure with further details and registration form is available at: http://www.nccumc.org/events.htm (select Blueprint for the House of Prayer. Note that one event is open to all and one is for clergy only).
Free choir music downloads for Lent and Holy Week
Free digital choir music downloads for Lent and Holy Week are available from The General Board of Discipleship. Print out the music and make copies for your choir at no charge: http://www.gbod.org/worship/default.asp?act=reader&item_id=15726
Annual Conference reports due March 3
Circles, commissions or agencies with reports for the 2006 Program, Recommendations and Reports should have the information to the Conference Secretary’s Office no later than March 3. Reports can be emailed to smedlin@nccumc.org
Safe Sanctuaries workshops
A Safe Sanctuaries Orientation/Introductory Workshop will be offered at St James UMC in Tarboro on Sunday, March 12, from 3 - 5:30 pm. The workshop is open to any churches not attending one of the workshops offered in all 12 districts last fall. Participants planning to attend the Tarboro workshop are asked to call the church (252-823-3783) with the name of the church and the number expected to attend. Workshops are also being planned for Cary and the Fayetteville area in February and March. Once finalized, the date and location will be announced in Newsbriefs and at the Conference website for Safe Sanctuaries. These will be the final orientation/introductory workshops offered by the Safe Sanctuaries Committee. Churches not attending one of the district workshops this past fall are urged to attend one of the three regional offerings this winter/spring. Follow-up workshops are being planned for the fall. The books by Joy Melton (available from Cokesbury) and video/DVD resources in the Conference Media Center are also available to assist local churches in beginning the process of developing, adopting and implementing a safe sanctuaries policy and procedures.
Members, pediatrician or internist Needed for Peru Mission Work Team
We have a great need of a pediatrician, internist, and other work team members for a medical/construction work team to Peru on March 9 - 20. The team will be working on a sanctuary at Jose Olaya, a shanty town about 45 minutes outside of Lima. We will also run a three-day medical clinic for women and children. Cost including building supplies and air fare is $1200. If you are interested, please contact Sherry Driscoll at 910-528-6758 or sherrydriscoll@earthlink.net .
Youth event registration
Registration for Summer Breakaway, June 19-24 at Louisburg College for middle school and senior high youth, is filling up quickly. The available spaces will be filled on a first come first served basis so early registration is advised. Kaleidoscope, a weekend spiritual life retreat for middle school youth grades 6-8, will be held March 31-April 2 at Don Lee Center. The registration deadline of March 11. Registration forms for conference youth events may be found in the back of the 2006 Youth Events brochure which is available for download online at www.nccumc.org/youthministry.
Confirmation Celebration
The Conference Confirmation Celebration will be Saturday, March 11, 10 am to 1pm, at Garner UMC. Confirmation classes and their adult leaders are invited to attend – pre-registration is not required. The Confirmation Celebration will explore the covenant vows of prayers, presence, gifts and service with leadership from confirmation classes as well as activities for participation by participants in the event. We will also explore what it means to be a connectional church and how confirmation is just the beginning of a lifelong faith journey through various speakers sharing with us. The event will conclude with the celebration of Holy Communion. There is no cost to the event although an offering will be taken and participants are asked to bring items for UMCOR health kits. Information is being mailed to pastors and is available online at www.nccumc.org/youthministry.
One Great Hour of Sharing
One Great Hour of Sharing (OGHS) is scheduled for March 26, the 4th Sunday in Lent. This is one time each year offering provides operational funding for United Methodist relief activities. UMCOR receives no World Service funds or any other apportionments. This special offering not only keeps UMCOR’s light on and the relief delivery system in place at home and around the, feeding the hungry, caring for the refugee, acting out the love of Jesus in the midst of death, it enables United Methodists to respond immediately to disasters. UMCOR is all of us. Please provide an opportunity for your congregation to take part in this critical offering. Without you, there is no UMCOR. For sermon illustrations, children’s sermons, stories, and other OGHS information, please see: http://gbgm-umc.org/umcor/oghs.stm and http://nccmission.org/one_great_hour.htm . Order your offering envelopes now!
The NC Hunger Summit - Cultivating Change & Growing a Solution
This important summit is being held April 6-7 at First Baptist Church of Raleigh. Practical ways to fight against hunger will be provided in workshops, discussions, networking opportunities and a message from keynote speaker Max Finberg, founder of The Alliance to End Hunger. For information please see:
http://www.ncagr.com/paffairs/summit/2006NCHSSavetheDatePostcard.PDF
Youth Lay Speaker Training
On Saturday, April 8, 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 the event. 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.
Restroom Accessibility Grants are available
Restroom accessibility grant requests for rural churches are being accepted. Grant applications must be received by April 30. Applications and guidelines are available online at: http://nccmission.org/restroom_grant.htm Grants are made possible by the Duke Endowment.
Why we sing what we sing
Have you ever wondered why we sing the hymns we do in worship. The following link lists 16 reasons: http://www.gbod.org/worship/default.asp?act=reader&item_id=15708&loc_id=17,1003
Recording, taping, broadcasting church music, worship
If your church is involved or thinking about recording, taping and/or broadcasting church music and worship then you need to know about Mechanical Licensing and Synchronization Licensing before you begin. This is a good place to begin, especially for churches and church musicians. http://www.gbod.org/worship/music/mechanical-license.pdf
Opportunity to serve as Conference Refugee Ministry Coordinator
A North Carolina Conference Refugee Coordinator is needed. This volunteer-servant will coordinate and encourage congregational support and sponsorship of newly arrived refugees in the conference. The Refugee Coordinator would work closely with and receive assistance and guidance from Lutheran Family Services, the lead agency for refugee resettlement ministry in this area. If you or someone you know would be interested in this critical position, please contact Becky Biegger at beckybiegger@nccumc.org or staylor@nccumc.org or call 800-849-4433, ext 256.
We are forming a Chile Ministry Support Team
Shana Harrison, an elder from the NC Conference, is serving as missionary at the La Esperanza Sheltered Workshop in Chile. A mission teams is being formed around her and her ministry to engage, promote, and uplift her work. If you would like to serve with this group, please call the Office of Mission at 800-849-4433 ext 256 or 257, or email beckybiegger@nccumc.org or staylor@nccumc.org
Summer Camp 2006 information, brochures, DVD
A package containing summer camp information, brochures for Chestnut Ridge, Don Lee, and Rockfish, and a DVD designed for showing to children and youth is in the mail to Camp & Retreat Coordinators or pastors of each church. The information packet includes information suitable for inclusion in bulletins, newsletters, or web sites. Help make the programs conference camps available in your church. Also, everything for Summer Camp 2006 can be found online at www.ncumcamps.org. If you need additional resources or assistance contact Wray Stephens (wray@ncumcamps.org).
