October Advocate should be delivered
The October issue of the NC Conference Christian Advocate is in the mail. The front page can be viewed at the following link: http://www.nccumc.org/advocate/issues.htm . Pastors, please encourage your local churches to provide a membership for each person on your administrative circle or equivalent. If 10 or more subscribe at the same time and payment is enclosed with the application, the cost is reduced to $12 per subscriber.
History Society and Commission meeting in Greenville
The NC Conference Historical Society meeting on Saturday, October 7, at St. James United Methodist Church, 2000 E. 6 th Street, Greenville. Following a tour of the church, guided by pastor, Gray Southern, goals will be set for the coming year. Input will be welcomed as the group learns more about the roots of our conference and plans for the future. The Archives and History Commission will meet in Greenville in the afternoon at Cypress Glenn. If anyone would like to join the Archives and History Commission for lunch at Cypress Glenn, please contact Laura Bailey ( llbailey@nccumc.org or 800-849-4433) by Tuesday, October 3 to make reservations.
UMW Annual Meeting is October 14
United Methodist Women Annual Meeting begins at 9:30 am on Saturday, October 14, in Reeves Auditorium on the Methodist College campus. For more information: http://www.gbgm-umc.org/ncconfumw/
Linking finances with biblical values for building stronger communities
Faith and Money with Ched Myers is a rare chance to learn how personal, family, or institutional money can be linked with biblical values for building stronger communities. On October 14, beginning at 9 am until 4:30 pm. at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Durham, educator and theologian Ched Myers will talk about "Sabbath Economics," the biblical call for all to use 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.
Bishop's Day Apart canceled for October 17
With the cancellation of the October 17 Bishop's Day Apart, pastors and deacons are encouraged to attend the Convocation and Pastors' School at Duke University Divinity School in Durham, October 9-11.
Bishop will lead Holy Land tour in February
Bishop Gwinn will lead a tour to the Holy Land next February and would like to take a large group with him from the N.C Conference. Anyone interested in being a tour host for the trip (will need to recruit only four for a free trip) is invited to attend a lunch at 12 noon at Jarvis Memorial UMC in Greenville on Thursday, October 19, or at the same time the following day, October 20, at Hayes Barton UMC in Raleigh. Ed Crump from Educational Opportunities and Doug Jessee, who both have recently returned from Israel, will talk about safety concerns. Anyone interested in hosting a group should call the New Bern District office (252-635-9704) by Monday, October 16, to sign up for the lunch.
Resource planning for families of persons with disabilities
A free workshop on resource planning for families of persons with disabilities will be held Saturday, October 21, 9 am - 12 noon, in Redhead Hall at First Presbyterian Church, 617 North Elm Street, Greensboro . This free workshop will cover Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security Disability, Trust Planning, a plan for care and issues related to providing a meaningful lifestyle for our physically or mentally disabled loved one. For more information or to register for this program, please call Maggie Turner, Congregational Nurse, at 478-4708.
Soapstone UMC is planning a work team to D'Iberville, Mississippi
Soapstone UMC is planning a work team to D'Iberville, Mississippi October 21-28. The team is open to anyone who would like to attend. The cost will be no more than $450, possibly less. Anyone interested should contact Susan Harrison at sharrison@soapstoneumc.org or 846-2212 ext 318.
Partners in Wholeness: Congregations and Health Care - Seminar
On October 26 at Calvary United Methodist Church in Durham from 8:30 to 3:45, a health care seminar will feature speakers on topics such as mental health in your congregation, health disparities among racial and ethnic groups, church leadership in mobilizing healthy communities, and end-of-life issues. A complete program and registration is available on line at www.nccouncilofchurches.org , by fax at 919-828-9697, or by snail mail at NCCC, 1307 Glenwood Avenue, Suite 156, Raleigh, 27605. The $20 registration fee includes the entire days activities and lunch. Students pay $10. Please register by October 19. For questions, e-mail nccofc@nccouncilofchurches.org or phone 919-828-6501.
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, NC. 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.
Living into Safe Sanctuaries
Churches at the implementation stage of safe sanctuaries policy and procedures will be aided in this effort by representative leaders attending the Living into Safe Sanctuaries Workshop on either Friday, October 27 at Garner UMC or Saturday, October 28 at Queen St UMC in Kinston. The registration brochure has been mailed and is available at the website: www.nccumc.org/childrnmin/safesanctuaries1.htm . The cost is $10 per person which includes the lunch meal. Registrations must be postmarked by October 16. Author of the books on Safe Sanctuaries and key leader in the United Methodist general church on this issue - Joy Melton - will be the primary presenter at the workshop. Questions may be addressed to the Office of Children, Youth and Young Adult Ministries at the Methodist Building.
Former NY Yankees manager to speak at UMM Rally
NC Conference United Methodist Men Rally will be held at St. Paul UMC in Goldsboro, 10 am-2 pm, on Saturday, October 28 . The speaker is Clyde King, a native of Goldsboro and former manager of the NY Yankees. $10 includes meal. For registration: http://www.ncumm.org/
Church and Community Grant Request are due October 31
Church and Community Grant requests are due to the Office of Missions no later than October 31 to be considered Year 2007. Fax copies are acceptable if followed with a hard copy. If grants are approved, funds will normally be distributed by the end March 2007. You can download the process and the appropriate request and reporting forms at: http://nccmission.org/church_and_community_grant.htm
Work Teams for Robeson County Church and Community Center
Sign-up now for Spring or Summer 2007 work teams at the Roberson County Church and Community Center. For more information, contact 910-738-5204/5205 or see: http://www.nccumc.org/robesoncounty/
Sudan Emergency - UMCOR Continues to Respond - Advance #184385
Despite the rising violence, UMCOR continues to offer relief for the embattled Darfur region of Sudan. UMCOR is also working with a coalition of other humanitarian organizations to provide assistance to Sudanese refugees fleeing from Darfur into the neighboring nation of Chad. The circumstances are dire; please help support this critical ministry. To give, simply make an offering to your local church and indicate Sudan Advance #184385. 100% of your gift will support the Sudan effort. Also please see: http://new.gbgm-umc.org/umcor/work/emergencies/ongoing/sudan/?search=darfur
Reverse Mission Team to La Esperanza Sheltered Workshop in Santiago, Chile
Ten slots are 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
UMCOR Sager Brown
United Methodists gave generously through relief supplies in response to the 2005 hurricanes. Approximately $7.8 million in bedding, mops, flood buckets, health kits, school kits and other items were donated to give some relief to hurricane survivors. You can learn more about UMCOR Sager Brown, the depot in Louisiana that warehouses and ships these important items to where they are most needed and how you can be a part of this important ministry in the newest church bulletin insert Relief Supplies: A Mission for Everyone. You can download this bulletin insert at:
http://new.gbgm-umc.org/umcor/getconnected/resources/cbi/archives06/index.cfm?i=5802
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 & multi-media.
* 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.)
* Proclaiming Peace in a Time of Perpetual War - 2 - 4 hour workshop - scripturally based with high interaction and multi-media
* 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.
