February Advocate
The February edition of the NC Conference Christian Advocate is being delivered to the Post Office on Monday or Tuesday (1/29 or 30) for delivery to subscribers. The focus of the issue is Missions across the conference. In addition, more articles and information are available at NC Mission . The front page of the February issue can be viewed at Advocate Issues . A file of the entire issue will be posted later this month. Back issued can be viewed from this site. Questions: E-mail Bill Norton or call him at 1-800-849-4433.
Summer Camp and Camp Sunday Materials
Each pastor should have received by mail or hand-delivery, materials for the promotion of summer camps (camp brochures and DVD) and/or the observance of Camp Sunday (bulletin inserts) on February 4 (or on a Sunday of your choosing) by Wednesday, January 31. If you have not, please call or e-mail Wray Stephens or call (919) 210-9299.
Churches received copies for display
Additional copies of the January issue of the NCC Christian Advocate , with a focus on Camping Ministries, should have been delivered to each local church. Please display these extra copies, with subscription information, in locations for church members to have an opportunity to read and subscribe to the newspaper. A limited number of additional copies are available if needed. E-mail Linda Smith or call her at 1-800-849-4433).
Resources for observing Black History Month
February is Black History Month. Free downloads of worship resources for Black History Month are available from the General Board of Discipleship. Some of the resources available are multimedia and electronic resources, United Methodist hymnal resources, an order of worship for Black History month and a Great Thanksgiving. The free downloads are available on the GBOD website: GBOD Worship or from Multicultural and Social Ministries
MHC Sunday, February 18, 2007
On Sunday, February 18, congregations across the Conference will celebrate your mission that serves children, youth, and families by taking up a special offering for Methodist Home for Children. Voted by our Annual Conference and strongly supported by our Conference UMW, this is one of the most popular special offerings received each February in our conference. If your church or charge needs bulletin inserts, envelopes, or would like a speaker, E-mail Jennifer Cooper or call her at 919-754-3625.
Mission Team to La Esperanza Sheltered Workshop in Santiago, Chile
Six slots remain available for a "journey inward - journey outward" with missionary, Rev. Shana Harrison, April 20 - May 2. Close out date for registration is: February 16. First $500 deposit due on March 1. 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 $900 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 Becky Biegger Please see: Shana's news
Youth Lay Speaker Training
A lay speaker training for youth will be held on Saturday, February 24 at the Methodist Building in Raleigh. Application forms are available at the Conference Youth Ministry website. The application deadline is February 19.
A church with several campuses
A Multi-Site Church Workshop with Paul Nixon, author of Fling Open the Doors: Giving the Church Away to the Community , will be open to all conference laity and clergy on Monday, February 26, from 7 - 9 p.m. In his book, Nixon tells the story of Gulf Breeze UMC, a church whose second campus brought "vibrant worship and effective community ministry to its adopted neighborhood." The workshop is sponsored by the Office of Congregational Development and is free of charge. Location: Apex UMC, 100 S. Hughes Street, Apex. To register, please call Nancy Koontz at 1-919-832-9560, ext. 254.
Retirement seminar for clergy
Clergy considering retirement should register for the 2007 Retirement Planning Seminar, scheduled for Thursday-Friday, March 15-16, at the Hilton Wilmington Riverside. Whether considering retirement in the next six months or three years from now, this event will provide vital information. Encourage your spouse to attend. Space is limited and the registration deadline is February 22 . 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.
Get Ready for VBS
The Raleigh Cokesbury Store offers opportunities for selection of materials and training for VBS. VBS Showcase Days are January 26 through February 10 - 20% off all 2007 VBS resources is available during this two-week period. Resources are available for preview in the store. This is in conjunction with the Christian Education Showcase. An in-depth training event for those using Cokesbury's VBS Curriculum Lift Off! will be held on March 20 from 7-9pm at St Mark's UMC in Raleigh. Call a Cokesbury sales associate with any questions at 1-866-265-2665.
For Such a Time as This
The children's ministry resource event themed For Such a Time as This will be held Friday, April 27 and Saturday, April 28 at Centenary UMC in New Bern. Brochures with registration forms and workshop listings, etc. have been mailed and is available for download from the website: For Such a Time as This . Jim Ritchie and Delia Halverson will provide leadership. All areas of children's ministry are covered in this event so all persons involved in any aspect of local church children's ministry will benefit from participation. The registration deadline is April 5.
Confirmation Celebration
The annual Conference Confirmation Celebration will be held on Saturday, March 10, Garner UMC, starting at 10am and concluding by 1 pm. Bishop Gwinn, Director of Hispanic Ministries Cookie Santiago and several confirmation groups will be in leadership. The service project will be UMCOR health kit assembly. Participants are asked to bring necessary items for the health kits and a monetary offering. Pre-registration is not required. Further information about the event is available at the Conference Youth Ministry website
UMM gathering at Junaluska
SEJ UM Men Quadrennial Spiritual Gathering & Training will be held at Lake Junaluska August 10-12, 2007. The event will include spouse and family activities (families with children under age 18). Send in your registration fee before June 10 to get the early bird rate of $40 per family. Higher rates apply for later registrations. For more information or to register online with a major credit card, click on SEJUMM
To make room reservations, l toll-free 1-800-222-4930 and ask for the special rates for the SEJUMM Spiritual Retreat.
One Great Hour of Sharing
One Great Hour of Sharing (OGHS) should be observed in local churches with an offering on March 18. This is the one time each year set aside to raise operational funding for our United Methodist relief activities. UMCOR receives no World Service funds or any other apportionments. United Methodists' gifts to this special offering not only keep UMCOR's lights on and UMCOR's delivery system in place at home and around the world, feeding the hungry, caring for the refugee, acting out the love of Jesus in the midst of death. We are all UMCOR. Financial support to OGHS enable all of us to respond immediately to disasters, like Katrina. Please provide an opportunity for your congregation to take part in this critical offering. For sermon illustrations, children's sermons, stories, and other OGHS information, please see: One Great Hour of Sharing and NC Mission OGHS .
Restroom Accessibility Grants are available
Due to a generous grant by the Duke Endowment, restroom accessibility grant requests for rural churches are now being accepted. Grant applications must be received by April 2, 2007. Applications and guidelines are available online at: Restroom Grant
NC Missionary Frido Kinkolenge - Liberia Ex-Combatant Children Ministry - in NC Conference Jan.16 - Feb.17.
Frido has many open dates available to come and talk with your UMW groups, UMM groups, Sunday school classes, civic groups, etc. Most of the open dates are non-Sunday dates. To book Frido, please e-mail Jim Perry or call him at (919) 349 3611.
Rainbow Covenant due, forms available
Local church Rainbow Covenant data is due January 31 to your District Mission Secretary. Rainbow Covenant Report Forms were mailed to pastors and mission chairs in December. You can also find the form 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, your church 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 you have any questions or need assistance, please contact Becky Biegger: beckybiegger@nccumc.org or call 800-849-4433 ext 256.
Project AGAPE Month - January
Please remember that January is Project AGAPE month, a time when we 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. If you did not make space for an offering, please consider some other time for this important ministry. Bulletin inserts were mailed in December and are available on-line as a download at: http://www.nccmission.org/agape_insert.htm (may have to be pasted in your browser).
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 "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
Project AGAPE and Heifer International join together!
We now have a partnership ministry through Project AGAPE with Heifer International. You can now donate through Heifer and touch refugees being served by Project AGAPE. This is now a direct Conference Advance Special #S00177 - Heifer - Armenia. To see how you can now make a donation for Heifer-Armenia, that will go toward the NC Conference Rainbow Covenant, and provide hope for Armenian refugees, please see: http://nccmission.org/agape_heifer.htm
UMVIM Work team to Liberia . April 14 - 30, 2007
A United Methodist Volunteers In Mission Work team to Liberia is planned for April 14 - 30, 2007. Passport, Visas, and appropriate vaccinations are required. The work team is open to any church member interested in Missions in the country of Liberia. Approximate total costs, including material support, in-country costs and airfare is approximately $3000. For more information please see: http://nccmission.org/liberia_umvim_workteam.htm and contact the work team leader: Jim Perry, Africa Sub Committee/Edenton St UMC/Raleigh:
(919) 349 3611 cell or email - jimperryassoc@nc.rr.com
UMVIM Team Leader Training
United Methodist Volunteers in Mission Team Leader Training (Basic & Advanced) will be held Febaruary 16 - 17, 2007,at the MERCI Center in Goldsboro, NC. You can sign up at: http://www.nccumvim.org/tltregistration.htm
