AC District Briefing Session available over Internet
An Annual Conference briefing session can be viewed over the Internet on Sunday, May 21, at 3 pm. The session will be streamed from pre-recorded tape. A live question and answer session will follow. Questions may be sent via e-mail to helpdesk@nccumc.org at any time during the broadcast. If questions remain after the allotted time, answers will be posted on the website. Individuals may watch the video stream from any computer with a high speed internet connection. Use of the latest version of Windows Media Player is recommended. Access the stream by using the following URL: http://powerlink.powerstream.net/002/00262/live1.asx The video stream should become active approximately 15 minutes before the broadcast begins. The presentation will be archived in a dial-up compatible format after the live session. http://www.nccumc.org/ac2006/acbriefsessions.htm Some districts plan to hold their own briefing session. Check with the appropriate district superintendent.
Clergy, do you have a conference e-mail account?
The Bishop and Cabinet are requiring all clergy and diaconals to have a conference e-mail account (address ends in "nccumc.org"). That address, which remains the same regardless of your location, will be the only address used for official correspondence from conference and district offices. Clergy without conference e-mail addresses may select their own ID and Password by using the attached form. This can be done through Annual Conference. After conference an ID and Password will be assigned to clergy without conference e-mail accounts. For a form: http://www.nccumc.org/docs/email.doc (Form is in Word which can be completed and e-mailed.)
Worship, preaching, and music resources from GBOD
MOTHERS DAY (May 14)- http://www.gbod.org/worship/default.asp?act=reader&item_id=16253
ARMED FORCES DAY (May 20)- http://www.gbod.org/worship/default.asp?act=reader&item_id=7581&loc_id=739
HERITAGE SUNDAY/DAY (May 21/24)- http://www.gbod.org/worship/default.asp?act=reader&item_id=14004&loc_id=9,32,53
ALDERSGATE SUNDAY/DAY (May 21/24)- http://www.gbod.org/worship/worship/articles.asp?act=reader&item_id=15727&loc_id=9,32,50 and
http://www.gbod.org/worship/default_body.asp?act=reader&item_id=13863
ASCENSION DAY/SUNDAY (May 25/28)- http://www.gbod.org/worship/default.asp?act=reader&item_id=16221&loc_id=1,612,32,50 and http://www.gbod.org/worship/default.asp?act=reader&item_id=15794&loc_id=9,32,50 and http://www.gbod.org/worship/TextOnly.asp?item_id=13877
and http://www.gbod.org/worship/lectionaryhymns/052806hymns.asp
MEMORIAL DAY (May 29)- http://www.gbod.org/worship/default.asp?act=reader&item_id=14159
Trail Hike Registration deadline soon
Any high school youth desiring to participate in the Appalachian Trail Hike Conference youth event - June 24-July1 - must register by May 15. The 2006 Youth Events brochure contains the registration form and may be found at www.nccumc.org/youthministry . Upon processing the registration, a confirmation packet of detailed materials will be mailed.
Assistance requested to complete health survey
Between May and June, all active clergy and lay workers in the church will receive a survey from Duke University regarding health issues. The General Board of Pensions and the Denomination Health Task Force is requesting your assistance in completing the survey. Participating in this confidential survey (HIPPA compliant) will provide valuable insight on trends in health needs of all church workers.
Reminders about Annual Conference
Please go on-line and register for Annual Conference. All clergy are encouraged to register their lay member(s) on-line as well. The web address is www.nccumc.org or click on Annual Conference 2006.
The Program, Recommendation and Reports 2006 have been mailed to all lay and clergy members. If a new lay member is selected by a local church and the old lay member received the Program book, he/she should pass the book on to the new lay member going to Annual Conference. All lay and clergy planning to stay in the dorm at East Carolina University must mail the completed East Carolina Housing Form to the Conference Secretary's Office by May 15. Rooms may not be available at ECU if the pre-registration housing form has not be received by May 15. Resolutions are due by May 15 and are to be sent in electronic format to smedlin@nccumc.org in the Conference Secretary's Office.
Children's March registration deadline extended
The deadline to register a group to participate in the Children's March to the State Capitol on June 20 has been extended to June 5. Registration is available at the website - www.umchildrenmarch.org . In addition to registration, curriculum resources for use with children and adults may be found at the website. Upon registration, further details in a confirmation packet will be sent to the group leader. The Children's March is a joint effort of the NC and Western NC Conference UMC. For those in the northeastern part of the Conference - a satellite location for the event is First UMC-Elizabeth City.
Share with Preschool, After-School, Weekday Programs with Children
If your church has a preschool, after-school or any other weekday ministry with children program - those directors and teachers will want to attend the Through the Eyes of a Child Weekday Ministries with Children Workshop on Saturday, August 19 at Highland UMC in Raleigh. Brochures with details and registration forms will be available in late May. Seminars will be offered on administration for directors, starting and maintaining a quality after-school program, positive guidance of young children, music with young children and storytelling with Bible stories. The workshop will begin at 10am and conclude by 2pm with a worship service. Attendees must be pre-registered. Please share this opportunity with your weekday programs and have them be on the lookout for the brochure. Once available, the brochure will also be available at the website: www.nccumc.org/childrnmin/children05.htm .
The Office of Missions is ready to serve you!
Please know that we are willing to come to your church and provide mission presentations, support, training, sermons, etc. We are happy to provide a series event titled - "Missions - A Journey of Spirit and Justice." We can provide it over 6 to 8 sessions lasting one and a half hours, including several sessions of Biblical Annimation. If any of these possibilities interest you, or if you have other missional needs, please contact Steve at staylor@nccumc.org or Becky at beckybiegger@nccumc.org or the Office of Missions, 800-849-4433, ext 257 and 256.
Project AGAPE Shipment
A Project AGAPE (Armenia) shipment is scheduled for June 10 at 10:00 AM at the MERCI Center in Goldsboro. Volunteers for loading and packing are needed! Please contact Becky Biegger at beckybiegger@nccumc.org or 800-849-4433 ext 256 if you can assist in this life-giving work. Also, the following items are great needs of the refugees in the Lachin area. Children's clothing (ages 5 - 17), shoes, new underware, and canned foods. Please remember - NO MEDICATIONS!!! For more information see: http://nccmission.org/agape_shipment.htm
Endorse an increase in the minimum wage
As United Methodists, we believe that people have a right to a living wage. (UM Social Principles ¶ 163. IV. THE ECONOMIC COMMUNITY) Aligning ourselves with those who Jesus calls "the least of these" is one of the ways we worship the Word Made Flesh. You can make a difference by endorsing an increase in the NC minimum wage at http://www.ncfairwages.org/endorsefrm.pdf . Also, you can support this effort by attending an event on Monday, May 15, 2006 2pm hosted by North Carolinians for Fair Wages at the Legislative Building Auditorium (3 rd floor), 16 West Jones Street, Downtown Raleigh. Directions available at http://www.ncleg.net/help/directions.html To learn more about poverty and its affects on the working poor, consider the Poverty Simulation, a two hour session where you can "experience" what it is to live in such circumstance. Please contact Steve at staylor@nccumc.org or Becky at beckybiegger@nccumc.org or call the Office of Missions at: 800-849-4433 ext 256.
Dr. Tony Campolo to speak for ZOE
Dr. Tony Campolo will speak for ZOE on September 15, 2006, 7:30 pm (note: this is a change in the time listed in last week's News Brief), Edenton Street UMC, Raleigh. Tickets are $40. The purchase of a ticket will ZOE buy the equivalent of one new outfit and 100 servings of food for a child. You can download the order form for tickets at: http://zoeministry.org/tc/ Please set this date on your calendar. For more information about Dr. Campolo's ministry: http://www.tonycampolo.org
New International Missionaries Sought
The United Methodist Church needs at least 20 new international missionaries over two years. A recruitment effort-"The Next Missionary May be YOU"-was launched during the April 3-6 spring meeting of the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries. "We are looking for missionaries in 2006 and 2007 for service in Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, and Israel/Palestine," said the Rev. Edith Gleaves, who heads the board's mission personnel unit. "We need missionary pastors, educators, health and social workers, children and youth workers, administrators, and specialists in rural and construction ministries." A typical missionary term is three years in length and the board provides health benefits and educational provisions for dependent children. For the full article, see: http://nccmission.org/missionaries_needed.htm
Wil Bailey, one of our SEJ/Conference Missioners
Wil is serving at San Isidro,Costa Rica and is responsible for working with local pastors in the southern zone of Costa Rica and will organize the projects at the Methodist churches in that area for U.S. work teams. If you would like to contact Wil to do a mission work team, please email him at: wil@costaricamissionprojects.com . For more about Wil's service, please see: http://www.costaricamissionprojects.com/pages/1/index.htm . He is an extension of our hands, our feet, and our hearts. You can support Wil through the Rainbow Covenant: http://www.nccmission.org/rainbow_covenant
