September Advocate in the mail
The September issue of the North Carolina Conference Christian Advocate has been mailed to subscribers. If you would like to see a small sample of that edition, follow the link: http://www.nccumc.org/advocate/issues.htm (Acrobat Reader is needed).
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
There is still time to apply to Colleague Forum for Pastors
Colleague Forum for Pastors is 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 beautiful 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 ( jweaver@nccumc.org ), 252-747-3723.
Christian Educators Fellowship meets September 14
The September meeting of Christian Educators Fellowship will be held at the Methodist Building in Raleigh on the September 15. The monthly gather begins at 12:30 pm with lunch, fellowship, and programs which usually end around 2:30. The theme for this month's program will be "More Than a Movie". Participants are invited to share a short scene from a movie that has inspired them to think in a new or renewed way about God and faith issues. If you would like more information about the NC Chapter of CEF, please contact Rev. Joyce Horn, jbhorn@nccumc.org , NC CEF president.
Worship resources available without charge
Free worship resources for September 24 are available on the topic of "Whoever Welcomes One Such Child"/Public Education . The focus text is Mark 9:30-37. Resources include scripture commentary and pastoral reflection by the Rev. Molly Shivers, responsive readings, prayers, personal stories, suggested hymns, key facts, and contact information for a variety of organizations working on the issue of public education. These resources are from Acts of Faith: Resources For Prophetic Worship , a lectionary-based worship aid produced by the North Carolina Council of Churches and speaking to justice issues in North Carolina.
http://www.nccouncilofchurches.org/resources/downloads/lectionary/Separate%20Sections/4Education-Final.pdf
Public domain hymn chart
How long does copyright last? When will it expire on a particular hymn? When does a hymn enter the public domain? This simple chart, with links to related articles, will provide answers to those and other questions. For a summary of some US Copyright laws:
http://www.gbod.org/worship/default.asp?act=reader&item_id=17034&loc_id=17,823
Bishop's Katrina Appeal available on-line
Katrina Appeal - High Bandwidth
http://www.nccumc.org/videoroom/video/katrina/katrina-high.wmv
Katrina Appeal - Low Bandwidth
http://www.nccumc.org/videoroom/video/katrina/katrina-low.wmv
Love God, Honor the Land, Celebrate Community
Love God, Honor the Land, Celebrate Community, a gathering to celebrate rural communities and the ministry of rural churches, will be held on Friday and Saturday, September 22-23 at Cedar Grove United Methodist Church in Cedar Grove. The two-day gathering, hosted by Theology and Medicine at Duke Divinity School and The Duke Endowment, is being held 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
Refugees arriving from Tham Hin Refugee Camp
Burmese Karen Refugees are on their way to North Carolina. They need your help. As they begin rebuilding their lives in North Carolina, church support will be the key to their successful resettlement. To get involved in this life-giving ministry, please contact Brianne Casey of Lutheran Family Services at 919-861-2873, brianne.casey@lfscarolinas.org or Pastor Luis Reinoso at 252-235-6256, reinosol@nccumc.org . For more information, please see: http://nccmission.org/refugee_ministry.htm
Centering Prayer and Outreach Retreat - October 26-29
The ecumenical 4th Day Retreat Mission Group and the Greensboro Servant Leadership School are co-sponsoring the Centering Prayer and Outreach Retreat at the St. Francis Springs retreat center in Stoneville. Leading this time of transformation, contemplation, and empowerment for outreach is Father Carl Arico, outreach director for Contemplative Outreach, LTD. Father Arico, a diocesan priest for 28 years, has spent the last 18 years talking to people all over the world about the power and practice of Centering Prayer. He is known for his humor and clarity in his teaching on Centering Prayer. He also is the author of Taste of Silence. Cost of the three-day retreat is $185 (triple), $205 (double) or $275 (single.) There are limited slots so register soon! For registration and more information, please see: http://www.4thdayjourney.org/2006.10_info.htm or call Call 866.797.0966 and leave a message. Your call will be returned.
Two health ministries continuing education programs
Two health ministries continuing education programs will be offered in October: 1) A one-day overview of health ministries and congregational nursing on Saturday, October 14, and 2) A six-day basic preparation course on Friday-Wednesday, October 13-18. Theology and Medicine at Duke Divinity School is offering the programs. For details and application forms: http://www.divinity.duke.edu/programs/theomed/hnm/
Faith and Money - with Ched Myers
Faith and Money is a chance to learn how to link personal, family, or institutional money with biblical values for building stronger communities. The program will begin at 9 am on October 14, Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Durham. Ched Myers, educator and theologian, will talk about "Sabbath Economics," the biblical call to use our resources and assets so there is enough for all--otherwise known as "the kingdom" and "the beloved community." Cost of the day for materials and a meal is only $15. Ched will preach at Duke Chapel on the morning of October 15. For registration and information, please see: www.chapel.duke.edu and click on Faith and Money Conference.
Global Day for Darfur - Worship Service and Call for Justice
A Candlelight Vigil will be held Thursday, September 7 at 8:00 pm at Fuquay-Varina UMC in the Courtyard and on September 17 at 3:45 pm there will be a service of Prayer and Call for Justice. These events are planned in conjunction with the Global Day for Darfur on September 17. The Save Darfur Coalition is calling on communities across America to organize 10 Days of Action in anticipation of this event. For more information contact Debra Dean Murphy at Fuquay-Varina UMC at 552-4331. There will be no offerings at either of these services; however, if you would like to give to this on-going emergency, you can use Sudan Emergency, Advance #184385 which will support relief efforts. One hundred percent of your gift goes to humanitarian work in Sudan. Give through your local United Methodist church or send contributions to: UMCOR, 475 Riverside Dr., Room 330, New York, NY 10115. Call toll-free 1-800-554-8583 to make a credit card donation. To see the United Methodist response in Darfur please see: http://gbgm-umc.org/umcor/emergency/sudan.stm
Glean with Society of St.Andrew
Hunger remains a life draining issue in North Carolina. On this day, there are 365,000 children in our state who are food-insecure; yet, there is wealth and the resource to ensure children have enough to eat everyday. Please contact Society of St. Andrew and ask how your church can become a "Gleaning Congregation." You can also make a gift to Society of St. Andrew through the Conference Advance Special. Make your donation through your church offering by noting on your gift envelope and check - Society of St. Andrew, Advance #00081. 100% of your donation goes for this important ministry. For more information contact: Rev. Julia Webb-Bowden at 919-683-3011 or ncglean@endhunger.org .
