Next session of UM101 begins February 21
Join the next session of UM101 beginning Feb. 21. UM101 is an online (Internet) interactive, multi-media course about the basics of The United Methodist Church. Registration is $12. Participants can access the class any time between February 21 and March 28. 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.
A Service of Prayer and Call to Justice for the People of Sudan
Sunday, February 25 at 3:00 pm, Fuquay-Varina United Methodist Church. 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 . For more information contact Debra Dean Murphy at 919-552-4331 ext. 106 or dmurphy@fvumc.org
Mission Team to La Esperanza Sheltered Workshop in Santiago, Chile
A few slots remain available for a "journey inward - journey outward" with missionary, Rev. Shana Harrison, April 20 - May 2, 2007. Reservations will be taken until March 1. 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 beckybiegger@nccumc.org Please see: http://nccmission.org/shana's_news.htm
Confirmation Celebration
The Conference Confirmation Celebration will be Saturday, March 10, Garner UMC. Celebration begins at 10 am and concludes around 1 pm. Pre-registration not required. Event has no cost (other than opportunity to give to an offering to fund health kits). Participants should bring items needed for UMCOR health kits. The health kits will be assembled as a service project in the program of the Celebration. A list of health kit items and more information about the Confirmation Celebration is available at www.nccumc.org/youthministry .
End-of-Life care
Explore the theological, medical and practical dimensions of end-of-life care and develop knowledge to help improve care for people in your community. Theologians, church leaders and health care professionals will lead more than 25 workshops. The conference is presented by the Duke Institute on Care at the End of Life and the Presbyterian Church (USA). March 12-14, Washington Duke Inn, Durham, Details available at: www.iceol.duke.edu/pcusa .
Retirement seminar for clergy
Clergy considering retirement, whether six months or three years from now, should register for the 2007 Retirement Planning Seminar , March 15-16, at the Hilton Wilmington Riverside. Encourage your spouse to attend. Space is limited. 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.
One Great Hour of Sharing
One Great Hour of Sharing (OGHS) is scheduled for March 18, 2007. 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. You are UMCOR. 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: http://new.gbgm-umc.org/umcor/give/oghs/ and http://nccmission.org/one_great_hour.htm .
Kaleidoscope
Kaleidoscope is a weekend spiritual life retreat for middle school youth (currently in grades 6-8) at Don Lee on March 23-25. Kaleidoscope is one of the Conference youth events where adult staff are provided and youth register individually to attend. The registration deadline is March 2. Registration forms may be found in the 2007 Youth Events brochure and at the website: www.nccumc.org/youthministry .
CPI applications for grants must arrive on March 30
Comprehensive Plan of Inclusiveness grant applications are due March 30 by 4pm (if hand-delivered) or must be postmarked by March 30. No faxed applications will be considered. Applications are available in the "downloads" section on the conference Multicultural and Social Ministries website. New and innovative ministries will get strong consideration. For further information call Lawrence E. Johnson in the Multicultural office (919-832-9560).
Restroom Accessibility Grants are available
Restroom accessibility grant requests for rural churches are now being accepted. The grants are made possible by the Duke Endowment. Grant applications must be received by April 2, 2007. Applications and guidelines are available online at: http://nccmission.org/restroom_grant.htm
Conference on Food, Faith and Farms to be held in April
"Come to the Table: A Conference on Food, Faith, and Farms" hosted by the NC Council of Churches, are one-day gatherings of faith leaders, hunger advocates, farmers, and others for a conversation on how North Carolinians of faith can honor the land, feed the hungry, and seek justice together. The eastern N.C. session will be at St. Luke's United Methodist Church in Goldsboro on April 10. The central N.C. session will be at Cedar Grove United Methodist Church in Cedar Grove on April 11. At each regional session, there will be speakers on Christian faith and land stewardship, the state of hunger in each region, and the situation of local farms. Each day ends with a field trip to a local agricultural project. Registration for the conference is $10 which includes a fresh, locally grown lunch. To register and get more information, visit www.cometothetablenc.org . If you have suggestions for groups or people who would like to learn about this conference, e-mail Claire Hermann at hermann@unc.edu . To register by phone, call Rose Gurkin at (919) 828-6501.
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
Conference Youth Rally Day
Conference Youth Rally Day is Sunday, April 22, NC Wesleyan College in Rocky Mount from 3-6 pm. Rally Day features recreational and fellowship activities and a worship service led primarily by youth. Youth groups are invited to sponsor and lead recreational activities as well as offer acts of worship for the worship service. Information about these opportunities and Rally Day is being mailed to pastors and youth leaders in late February. For further information contact the Office of Youth Ministries at 800-849-4433.
For Such a Time as This
The Children's Ministry Resource Event for persons involved in various aspects of local church children's ministry will be Friday through Saturday, April 27-28, at Centenary UMC in New Bern. The theme for the event is "For Such a Time as This." Nationally noted Christian education and children's ministry leaders Jim Ritchie and Delia Halverson will be resource people for the event. A variety of workshops will be offered. The brochure with complete information about the event, listing of workshops and registration form has been mailed out and is also available at www.nccumc.org/childrnmin/children05.htm .
Sunday school stories sought
Do you have stories about how Sunday school has touched people's lives and ideas to help Sunday school succeed? The general church would like to hear them for an effort called "Sunday School - It's for Life." Stories are shared on the website http://sundayschool.cokesbury.com as a joint effort by United Methodist Publishing House and the General Board of Discipleship, and may be used for additional placements. Please submit articles approximately 500 words in length to Harriet Olson at the Publishing House, holson@umpublishing.org, and Diane Denton, director of Public Relations at United Methodist Communications, ddenton@umcom.org.
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
Globalization Study - On Earth as it is In Heaven - Making it Real
This 4-6 hour study seeks to provide a description of Jesus' desire for a just economy, a (basic) description of some of the facets and power-brokers of a globalized economy, vignettes that demonstrate how such an economy often decimates those with little economic power, and then seeks to offer a few possibilities toward a more just economy, personally and corporately. The study is highly interactive using Holy Scripture, Power Point, Video, and dialogue to consider Sabbath Economics in a globalized context. To learn more or to schedule your study, please contact Steve Taylor or Becky Biegger at: 800-849-4433 ext 256 or 257 or beckybeigger@nccumc.org or staylor@nccumc.org
Here are a few of the programs offered by the Office of Missions.
All programs utilize adult popular education teaching methodology, i.e., high engagement and very interactive.
* Globalization - "On Earth as it is in Heaven - Making it Real" - 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.)
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.
