All God's Children Christmas Play
All God's Children United Methodist Church will be performing "He Sent Us an Angel," a Christmas play. The Performance will be at Salem Middle School in Apex, 6150 Old Jenks Road. Performances are on Friday, December 15 at 6:30 pm and Saturday, December 16, at 5:30 pm and then again at 7:30 pm. There will be a love offering taken for the construction of a children's ministry center in Aulander, called The Place of Possibilities. The ministry center is to serve some of the most vulnerable children of our state. For more information about All God's Children please see: http://www.allgodschildrenumc.net/
What is United Methodism --- UM101 has the answer
Join the next session of UM101 for free, a $12 savings. UM101 is an online (Internet) interactive, multi-media course about the basics of The United Methodist Church. Registration for the next session began Dec. 6. Participants can access the class any time between Dec. 15 and Feb. 15 on their own time schedule. The course can be completed in three hours but most participants prefer to take more time in order to participate in activities and discussion board. It's never too late to register or start the class. For more information and to register, please go to http://training.umcom.org . UM101 is offered by United Methodist Communications.
Project AGAPE Month - January
January is Project AGAPE month, a time to reflect and respond to the deep needs of our brothers and sisters in Armenia. Many there continue to struggle as refugees in the midst of destroyed houses and broken lives. Please continue to pray for the deep needs of this ministry and consider an offering on January 7, AGAPE Sunday, or some other Sunday in January. Bulletin inserts are being mailed and will soon be available on-line as a download. Project AGAPE is part of the NC Rainbow Covenant - Advance #S - 00004. You can show your love for these brothers and sisters who have been so battered by giving through the Rainbow Covenant: Make checks payable to NC Conference marked for the "Project AGAPE - S#00004". Place your gift in your Sunday offering or mail checks to North Carolina Conference/Raleigh Area, The United Methodist Church, PO Box 60053, Charlotte NC 28260-0053. Please see: http://nccmission.org/project_agape.htm
Mission Team to La Esperanza Sheltered Workshop in Santiago, Chile (LOWER AIRFARE)
Slots available for a "journey inward - journey outward" with missionary, Rev. Shana Harrison, April 20 - May 2, 2007. Close out date for registration is: January 15, 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 $937 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 Please see: http://nccmission.org/shana's_news.htm
Rainbow Covenant due, forms available
Local church Rainbow Covenant data is due January 31 to your District Mission Secretary. Rainbow Covenant Report Forms will soon be mailed to pastors and mission chairs. Forms are also available in the 2007 Mission and Service Commitment Booklet and on our website: http://nccmission.org/rainbow_covenant.htm After going to the website, slide down the page and then click on the link that reads: Download Rainbow Covenant Report Form, click here!
Please remember, to be a Rainbow Covenant church, churches must first pay World Service & Connectional Ministries; Episcopal Fund; Interdenominational Cooperation, Black Colleges, Africa University Fund; and Past Service Liability in full, and then make a gift to one ADVANCE SPECIAL from each lane of the Rainbow Covenant. If there are questions or assistance is needed, please contact Becky Biegger: beckybiegger@nccumc.org or call 800-849-4433 ext 256.
Camp Sunday Bulletin Inserts - Final Call
Camp Sunday is designated for February 4, 2007. Please provide the number of inserts needed and a street address for shipping by returning the reply card recently mailed to senior pastors or by emailing your request to Wray Stephens (wray@ncumcamps.org). In addition to bulleting inserts, churches will receive summer camp materials, DVD's, and copies of the January issue of The Advocate featuring the Conference camp & retreat ministries
PK Getaway
A retreat for teenage (currently in grades 6-12) youth of United Methodist pastors will be held February 9-11 at Rockfish Outdoor Center. This event, sponsored by the Conference Council on Youth Ministries, is held every two years. The retreat is staffed by adult PK's (Preacher's Kids) and is intended to address the particular needs of United Methodist preacher's kids. The registration deadline is January 25, 2007. The registration form is found in the 2007 Youth Events brochure available for download on the "Events" page at www.nccumc.org/youthministry . Questions about the retreat may be directed to Sue Ellen Nicholson, Conference Director of Children, Youth and Young Adult Ministries.
Celebrate Methodist Home for Children Sunday on February 18
The annual special offering that supports children, youth, and families across the conference through Methodist Home for Children (MHC) Sunday, will be celebrated by many congregations on Sunday, February 18. Pastors can arrange for a local church speaker , request more information, or to request bulletin inserts and envelopes that have not been received, should call or write Jennifer Cooper at (919) 754-3625 or jcooper@mhfc.com
Global Vision deadline - January 26
Global Vision is a seminar study trip to Washington, DC and New York City for high school youth leaving the Methodist Building on Tuesday evening, March 13 and returning late Sunday night, March 18. The registration deadline is January 26. Registration forms may be found in the 2007 Youth Events brochure which has been mailed out and can be downloaded on the "Events" page at www.nccumc.org/youthministry . The seminar topic for 2007 is the state of the church around the world including consideration of the role of faith in politics.
Youth Lay Speaker Training
The third annual Youth Lay Speaker Training will be held Saturday, February 24, from 10am to 4pm at the Methodist Building in Raleigh. Linda Harris, Conference Director of Lay Speaking will be the facilitator. Pre-registration is required and applications must be received by February 19 (no applications will be taken after that date). The application is available at www.nccumc.org/youthministry or by contacting the Office of Youth Ministries at the Methodist Building. Please note: the youth lay speaker training is intended for youth who are committed to and most serious about Christian leadership and their leadership within the church as well as feel some sort of call to speak about their faith.
Confirmation Celebration
The Conference Confirmation Celebration will be Saturday, March 10, 2007 at Garner UMC. The Confirmation Celebration will again include the service project of assembly of health kits for UMCOR where participants are asked to bring items to go in the health kits. The Confirmation Celebration will be from 10am to 1pm and will not include any meal or refreshments. The Celebration will conclude with a service of Holy Communion. Pre-registration is not required and there is no cost to attending the event, although an offering will be taken. Further information about this event will be available in early January 2007 from District offices, Office of Youth Ministry at the Methodist Building in Raleigh and at the Conference youth website.
Children's Choir Festival
Children's Choir Festival at Christ UMC, 410 N. Holden Rd., Greensboro March 17, 9:15 until 3, sponsored by the Western NC Conference Fellowship of United Methodists in Music and Worship Arts. Registration fee per church of $65. Contact: Rev. Carrie Wright, Tyro UMC, 336-853-7459, ext. 30, cwright@tyroumc.org . Registration deadline is March 9.
"For Such a Time as This"
Friday, April 27 and Saturday, April 28 will be a comprehensive resource event for all types of adult leaders in local church children's ministry. The theme for the event is "For Such a Time as This" from Esther 4:14. Jim Ritchie and Delia Halverson - both nationally known leaders in Christian education and children/family ministries - will be part of the leadership for this event. Brochures will be available in January, 2007 - online at www.nccumc.org/childrnmin/children05.htm and via mail. Save these dates and watch for more information.
Complete and send forms to receive Interpreter magazine
Every pastor and seven designated local church leaders can receive a subscription to Interpreter magazine. This is made possible through contributions to the World Service Fund apportionment. Forms for enrollment, provided to district superintendents, should be completed and returned to the United Methodist Communications Customer Service team.
Enrollment can be accomplished by calling, writing, or mailing the information to: (888) 346-3862, e-mail csc@umcom.org , FAX (615) 742-5499, online at www.interpretermagazine.org , or by mailing the forms to Interpreter, P.O. Box 440229, Nashville, TN 37244-0229
Churches need license to show documentary
"An Inconvenient Truth", a documentary on Al Gore's campaign to make the issue of global warming a recognized problem worldwide has been released for home use only at this time. Local churches must purchase the Public Performance Rights (PPR) license from Swank Motion Pictures to show this without being in copyright violation. The license cost is $75 which is applicable for one day of screening. More information can be found on the Swank Motion Pictures website http://www.swank.com/truth.html
Philippines : Typhoon Recovery
UMCOR is working with partners in the Philippines to provide immediate assistance after Typhoon Durian struck the Central Philippines on December 1. Approximately 450 people have been reported killed and another 600 are missing following the typhoon and subsequent landslides that buried villages on the slopes of Mount Mayon, 200 miles south of Manila. UMCOR has already sent an emergency grant toward relief and expects to send another in the coming days. Several of Methodist churches have been destroyed. Please pray for those affected by this disaster and give to Philippines Emergency, Typhoon Durian, UMCOR Advance #240235 Gifts can be placed in the Sunday morning offering, simply by designating the Advance name and number (above) or you can give by debit or credit card on-line at: http://secure.gbgm-umc.org/donations/umcor/donate.cfm?code=240235&id=3018639&CFID=56959&CFTOKEN=36110470 100% of your gift will go to this emergency.
Mission Work Teams Needed in New Orleans
Patricia Bondor, a layperson from the NC Conference, is working as a volunteer work team coordinator with the Louisiana Conference in hurricane damage reconstruction. If you would like to send a team to help the Louisiana Conference, please contact Patricia at: patricia@intrex.net
Care for the Children ravaged by AIDS - ZOE Ministry
ZOE Ministry serves children ravaged by AIDS. Please support ZOE, a North Carolina Conference ministry to AIDS orphans, feeding 15,000 children in sub-Sahara Africa, and proclaiming the love of Christ. Please see the latest in this life-giving ministry and consider becoming a ZOE covenant member.
Please see: http://www.zoeministry.org/ . You can give to care for these children through the Rainbow Covenant: Make checks payable to NC Conference marked for the "ZOE Advance Special S00148". Place your gift in your Sunday offering or mail checks to North Carolina Conference/Raleigh Area, The United Methodist Church, PO Box 60053, Charlotte NC 28260-0053.
Missionary in Africa teaches sustainable agriculture - Mozart Adevu
Mozart Adevu works in western Africa teaching farmers methods of agriculture that are locally supportable, sustainable, ecology sensitive, and life-giving to local communities. Mozart is living into God's command to "bear one another's burdens." This is true -- Mozart cannot do this incredible work by himself. He needs you. Only by your gifts does the ministry occur. Only because you care do your hungry brothers and sisters eat. Only through your love will this harvest of God be fulfilled. If you don't currently support a United Methodist missionary , please consider a covenant relationship with Mozart. For more information on our conference missionaries, please see: Our Missionaries . Even a one-time gift does make a difference! Please note MOZART ADEVU (#13996-Z) on your check. You can make your gift through your Sunday offering or mail checks to North Carolina Conference/Raleigh Area, The United Methodist Church, PO Box 60053, Charlotte NC 28260-0053. For Mozart's bio please see: Mozart
FUMMWA to hold national convocation
Remember and reclaim the call of God to ministries of music, preaching, and worship arts at the Biennial National Convocation of The Fellowship of United Methodists in Music and Worship Arts July 16-19, 2007, in St. Louis, MO.
Speakers and leaders include outstanding resources in the areas of dance, congregational singing, preaching, visuals for worship, choral music, organ music, age level music, handbells, contemporary worship, and more. In addition, experience multi-sensory worship, concerts, music reading sessions, dynamic worship spaces in St. Louis, and fellowship with all those gathered. Registration is open now along with details at www.fummwaconvo.org .
New Curriculum for Youth and Adults with Developmental Disabilities
A copy of "The Gateway Club: a faith-based, church related social and religious education curriculum" has been given to the NC Conference Media Center. The resource includes the leadership directions for 36 two-hour long programs for youth and adults with developmental disabilities. If your church wishes to purchase the resource, supported by the National Task Force on Developmental Disabilities, Health and Welfare Ministries, General Board of Global Ministries, the United Methodist Church, it is available for $15.00 from: Pat Cook, 503 Vine, Leavenworth, KS 60048. If you would like to borrow the copy from the NC Conference Media Center, Contact Laura Bailey, llbailey@nccumc.org or 800-849-4433 ext 264.
