United Methodist Church Responds to Middle East Crisis
The UM Committee on Relief has issued an urgent call for funds to assist civilians caught in the midst of the Middle East fighting even as other UM leaders and agencies called for an end to that fighting. UMCOR has already sent $5,000 for emergency aid, and another $20,000 is going through the emergency approval process. UMCOR has several partners in Lebanon, Gaza, and the West Bank. In Israel, work is coordinated through missionaries (Middle East Emergency Fund, Advance #601740). For more information, please see:http://new.gbgmumc.org/umcor/newsroom/hotline/archives06/20060801/?CFID=10701911&CFTOKEN=64462592 and http://new.gbgm-umc.org/umcor/newsroom/hotline/archives06/20060718/?search=lebanon
United Methodists Volunteers in Mission Training – August 11 & 12
Join UMVIM at the MERCI Center in Goldsboro, NC for sessions of learning, sharing, fellowship and fun to enhance skills as team leaders. Team Leader Training will be offered for those persons in the local church who are considering or planning to serve as team leaders. The weekend is useful for both new team leaders and those who have "been there...done that" as new Advanced Training sessions are now being offered.
For more information and to register on line, please visit www.nccumvim.org.
“Hope for Middle East Peace” Interfaith Prayer Service
On Sunday, August 13, 3 pm, at the Meymandi Hall, Progress Energy Center for Performing Arts, Raleigh, there will be an interfaith prayer service of people coming together in humility and solidarity, to pray for peace in the Middle East. Faith leaders from Jewish, Muslim and Christian faith traditions will lead the service and provide comfort and solace. After the prayer service there will be a fellowship reception to provide opportunities for citizens of the different faiths and cultures to mingle and interact. See http://www.ncneighbors.com/news.wsi?group_id=3279&news_id=1 for the agenda.
Christian Education Showcase
The Cokesbury Christian Education Showcase is August 14-26. Free shipping for phone or online purchases is available. Purchase of Christian education resources at a Cokesbury store qualifies you for a coupon for 15% off your next purchase. Visit www.Cokesbury.com or call Curric-U-Phone at 1-800-251-8591.
Bishop Gwinn calls for Budget Summit on August 16
Bishop Al Gwinn invites all conference boards and agencies hoping to receive funding through the 2009 Budget to send their executive committee to a “Budget Summit: Living into the Vision” to be held Wednesday, August 16, 10 a.m. until 12 noon at Garner UMC in Garner. Conference Connectional Ministries Executive Director Charles M. Smith and Conference Treasurer/Business Manager Sharon Strother will join Bishop Gwinn in leading a discussion of budget building to better match up vision and priorities with adequate funding. The summit will work from the Conference Vision and the Council of Bishops’ Seven Pathways for Making Disciples of Jesus Christ for the Transformation of the World. The concept of zero-based budgeting and the timeline for the budgeting process will be discussed.
Is your congregation ready to welcome visitors?
Back to School time is when people visit congregations looking for a church home. Igniting Ministry will have “welcoming” spots running on cable television nationally. The NC Conference Communications Commission will have additional “welcome” broadcast spots on most of the ABC, CBS, NBC affiliates in the conference, as well as additional cable and radio buys in some districts. Congregations should plan to welcome visitors and helping them feel at home, especially during late August and most of September. The NC Conference TV spots run the week of September 4 and 18. For assistance with welcoming: Connecting Worship and Back to School: http://www.gbod.org/worship/default.asp?act=reader&item_id=1770&loc_id=9,10,32,54 and
Igniting Ministry: http://www.ignitingministry.org/
Third Sunday in August is Golden Cross Sunday
Please remember that the third Sunday in August(August 20th)is the day to take a love offering for the Golden Cross Ministry. Golden Cross is the ministry that assists laity across our great Conference with medical bills. Please submit your love offerings through the Conference Remittance form.
Register now for Financial and Retirement Planning Worship
There are spaces still available for registration for the 2006 Financial and Retirement Planning Workshop. This one day Financial and Retirement Planning Workshop is scheduled for Wednesday, August 23, at Hayes Barton UMC in Raleigh. The workshop will include vital financial and retirement planning information for any pastor. If you will be considering retirement in the next 10-20 years, this event will include essential facts for you. Encourage your spouse to attend. If you are younger and/or new to the United Methodist ministry, this workshop will help you prepare with accurate, current, and practical information for that “distant” event. Additional information and download of the brochure are available from the Conference Pension website, OR contact Sharon Saige in the Conference Treasurer’s office (ext. 316) for more information.
August 31 deadlines
August 31 is the deadline for applications for the Award of Excellence in Youth Ministry (www.nccumc.org/youthministry) as well as individual youth or youth group on stage leadership at Pilgrimage (contact senicholson@nccumc.org).
Dr. Tony Campolo to speak for ZOE
Dr. Tony Campolo will speak for ZOE on September 15, 7:30 pm, Edenton Street UMC, Raleigh. Tickets are $40. For the purchase of a ticket, ZOE will buy the equivalent of one new outfit and 100 servings of food for a child. Download the order form for tickets at: http://zoeministry.org/tc/. For more information about Dr. Campolo’s ministry: http://www.tonycampolo.org
Colleague Forum for Pastors
Colleague Forum for Pastors is now accepting applications for Colleague Forum #3. The start up date for Forum #3 has been changed to November 2006 and will run through August of 2008, meeting once a quarter --- three days and nights at Avila Retreat Center in Durham, for a total of eight sessions. The Forum is a two-year experience of spiritual formation, focusing on worship, study, and spiritual community. Applications will now be taken through September 15. For applications, and/or information, contact Robin Harry (rharry@nccumc.org), 919-832-9560, or Jimmy Weaver (j234weaver@yahoo.com), 252-747-3723.
Love God, Honor the Land, Celebrate Community
Theology and Medicine at Duke Divinity School and The Duke Endowment are hosting Love God, Honor the Land, Celebrate Community as a gathering to celebrate rural communities and the ministry of rural churches on Friday and Saturday, September 22-23 at Cedar Grove United Methodist Church in Cedar Grove. This two day gathering is to honor the faithfulness of rural churches in sustaining a vision for thriving rural communities throughout North Carolina.
If you plan to attend, please reply by email to: theomed@div.duke.edu There is no registration fee, but a ticket is required for your attendance. You may also call for your ticket: (919) 383-0615, ext. 105. For more information and to download the flyer, please see: www.theomed.divinity.duke.edu
Youth gathering for Camp Song Sing-a-Long “Come Together”
”Come Together” to sing your favorite praise and worship songs and fellowship with other United Methodist youth on Saturday, September 23, Edenton Street UMC in Raleigh, 4-7 pm. This is a great time to see old friends from Conference youth events and to make new ones. All United Methodist Youth are welcome! Price of admission is a box of cereal or a plastic jar of peanut butter to be donated to the Food Bank of NC. Snacks will be provided. What better way to get ready for Pilgrimage? Please RSVP to the design team at camp_song_sing_a_long@yahoo.com to let us know how many plan to attend. Feel free to email the same address with any questions. Endorsed by Conference Youth Ministry.
Probationers’ Seminar to be held September 28-29
Candidates for elders and deacons orders are invited to Duke Divinity School this fall for a seminar that focuses on study of the disciplinary questions addressed in papers and interviews. Complete seminar information and online registration.
Two health ministries continuing education programs
Theology and Medicine at Duke Divinity School is offering two health ministries continuing education programs in October: 1) A one-day overview of health ministries and congregational nursing on Saturday, Oct. 14, and 2) A six-day basic preparation course on Friday-Wednesday, Oct 13-18. For details and application forms: http://www.divinity.duke.edu/programs/theomed/hnm/
N.C. Five Day Academy for Spiritual Formation
The fifth Five-Day Academy in North Carolina will be offered at the Trinity Center in Salter Path beginning Sunday, October 1, and ending Friday, October 6. The cost is $650.00. The faculty for 2006: Kathryn Damiaco and Glandion Carney. For more information or a registration form, please contact Robin Harry, Registrar rharry@nccumc.org or 919-832-9560, ext. 252.
Clergy, reserve October 17 on your calendar
The Bishop’s Day Apart will be Tuesday, October 17, at First UMC in Wilson. More information will be available later.
Living into Safe Sanctuaries
On Friday, October 27, at Garner UMC and Saturday, October 28 at Queen St UMC in Kinston – Joy Melton, author of the Safe Sanctuaries books, will offer a follow-up workshop to local churches implementing safe sanctuaries policy and procedures. The workshop will run from 10am to 4pm both days and include resource personnel from Prevent Child Abuse of NC. Advance registration for these workshops will be required and registration brochures will be available in September. The website will also be updated with registration information: www.nccumc.org/childrnmin/safesanctuaries1.htm.
United Methodist Campus Ministries
As students head off to colleges and universities in the next few weeks – please make them aware of the United Methodist campus ministry opportunities available to them. Also, please send names and contact information of students from your church attending that school to the campus minister so that they may contact the students and make them aware of the United Methodist/Christian campus ministries for them. A list of the United Methodist related campus ministries at colleges and universities in North Carolina may be found at www.nccumc.org/youthministry/youngadults.html.
A few of the programs offered by the Office of Missions
* Globalization – It’s Impact on God’s World & How You can Make a Difference – 4 to 6 hour in-depth study, scripturally based with high interaction.
* Street Smarts – discerning and empowering congregations for local mission.
* Thy Kingdom Come – Moving from Charity to Justice, living in the Realm of God.
* Your Connected Ministry – Ministries you are doing as connected churches in the NC Conference (overview of mission opportunities.)
* Liberia – Land of Spirit, Land of Hope, Connecting with the Least.
* Missions – A Journey of Spirit and Justice – 6 to 8 weekly sessions, journeying in the life of Jesus, considering how we make that same journey today. Other missions presentations, support, training, and sermons are available for local churches from the Office of Missions. For further information e-mail Becky Biegger (beckybiegger@nccumc.org) or Steve Taylor (staylor@nccumc.org) or call them at 1-800-849-4433.
Reverse Mission Team to La Esperanza Sheltered Workshop in Santiago, Chile
Ten slots available for a “journey inward – journey outward” with missionary, the Rev. Shana Harrison, April 20 – May 2, 2007. Each day will begin with communion and centering prayer. Mornings will be with the participants of the workshop. The afternoons will be filled with bible study, biblical animation, and visits to historical and contemporary sites where we might engage in considerations of justice. Evenings will be reflections of the lives of individuals in Christ as incarnational dwelling. Estimated cost will be $1250 for airfare and $500 for in-country expenses (may be some slight changes.) For more information, contact Becky Biegger in the Office of Missions, 800-849-4433 ext 256 or beckybiegger@nccumc.org
Literacy Director opening for the Robeson County Church & Community Center
Full time. Candidate must have a BA in education or English with experience in teaching or coordinating literacy and/or English as a Second Language program. Spanish a +. Position includes supervision of staff and volunteers, fiscal management, reporting to funders, grant writing, teaching. Mail resume to Executive Director, Robeson County Church & Comm. Ctr., 210 E. 15th Street, Lumberton 28358 by July 28. No walk-ins.
Hungry neighbors remain in North Carolina
Worship Jesus by feeding hungry neighbors with Society of St. Andrew. You, your family, or church, with members aged 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: http://www.endhunger.org/north_carolina.htm . Please give to NC Advance, (#S-00081) and see the Rainbow Covenant for more information: Lhttp://nccmission.org/nc_conference.htm#HUNGER_HUMANITARIAN_RELIEF/MEDICAL
Care for ex-combatant children in Liberia
Frido Kinkolenge is a NC supported missioner who is working with ex-combatant children. These violated children, some as young as 10, were forced to fight and kill during the civil war in Liberia. Frido’s work on their (and our) behalf, his sharing of Christ, is transforming their reality and giving them hope. Be a partner in this ministry simply by making an Advance Gift to: NC Conference UMC - Liberia - Bright Future Children’s Ministry. Place your gift in your offering plate or send it through the conference treasurer. To mail: NC Conference/Raleigh Area, The United Methodist Church, PO Box 60053, Charlotte, NC 28260-0053. Mark on envelope and check: Attn: Liberia: Bright Future Children’s Ministry. One hundred percent of the gift will go to the Advance. Be sure to place your church and district name on the check and your church will receive Advance credit.
