Nomination form deadline moved to Monday, April 2
Lay and clergy nomination forms for the election of delegates to General and Jurisdictional Conferences must be in the appropriate offices in the United Methodist Building by Monday, April 2. Since the original deadline, April 1, is on Sunday, the deadline was changed making Monday the date forms must be received. Questions can be directed to the Conference Secretary, 1-800-849-4433. Forms can be downloaded from the second item at: 2007 Annual Conference .
Observe Native American Ministries on April 22 or another Sunday
Congregations should have an opportunity to participate in Native American Ministries Sunday with an offering on April 22 or another appropriate date. For information about the observance: Native American Ministries Sunday or call 1-888-862-3242 to order materials.
Contributions to Nothing But Nets could save the life of a child in Africa
On April 25, United Methodists are encouraged to skip lunch and donate the money saved to the Nothing But Nets campaign - www.NothingButNets.net - to purchase mosquito bed nets for children in Africa. A $10 contribution will pay for an insecticide-treated bed net, getting it to a family in Africa and teaching them how to use it properly. Contributions are being matched dollar for dollar so gifts will have twice the impact.
The Nothing But Nets campaign will be featured on American Idol on April 24 and 25 (Malaria Awareness Day). A special television event-"Idol Gives Back"-seeks to increase awareness and raise funds for organizations that provide assistance to children living in poverty in the U.S. and Africa.
EVENTS AND TRAINING
Conference Youth Rally Day
Conference Youth Rally Day will be Sunday, April 22, 3-6 pm at NC Wesleyan College in Rocky Mount. Weather permitting; the Rally will be held outside with recreation activities and a worship service. In the event of inclement weather the Rally will move into the gym. There is no need to pre-register for the event and there is no cost to the event (although refreshments will be available for purchase and an offering for YSF will be taken). Any group wishing to offer an act of worship as part of the worship service must reply to the Office of Youth Ministries by March 31. Any group wishing to provide a recreation activity must reply to the Office of Youth Ministry by April 2.
For Such a Time as This : Children's Ministry Resource Event
A resource event for all persons involved in any aspect of local church children's ministry will be held Friday evening, April 27 and Saturday, April 28 at Centenary UMC in New Bern. Cost for the event is $40 per person and the registration deadline is April 5. A variety of workshops will be offered in addition to a special worship experience on Friday night led by Jim Ritchie and a plenary session on spiritual formation of children with Delia Halverson - both resource people who are nationally noted authors, presenters and Christian educators. Brochures are available from the Conference Office for Children's Ministry as well as online at www.nccumc.org/childrnmin/children05.htm .
Trail Hike
The registration deadline for the Appalachian Trail Hike (for youth completing grades 10-12 in high school this summer) is May 15. The Trail Hike will be Saturday, June 23 to Saturday, June 30. There are limited spaces and registration early is advised so that confirmation materials (what to bring, advance conditioning suggestions) may be sent to you. The registration form may be found in the 2007 Youth Events brochure and online at Youth Ministry .
How to develop a Coaching Ministry
The Rev. Jim Griffith national expert in coaching, church planting, and transformational leadership processes will present a seminar on Tuesday, May 15, 9 am - 4 pm at Edenton Street UMC, Raleigh. Cost is $39. Register at ibrownlee@nccumc.org . More information is available at Academy .
N.C. Five Day Academy for Spiritual Formation
The fifth Five-Day Academy for Spiritual Formation will take place at Trinity Center in Salter Path Sunday-Friday, October 14-19. The cost is $650.00. The faculty will be E. Glenn Hinson and Sister Mary Margaret Pazdan. For more information or a registration form, go online to Spiritual Formation and select Academy for Spiritual Formation or contact Robin Harry, registrar at rharry@nccumc.org or 919-832-9560, ext. 252.
OPPORTUNITIES FOR PARTICIPATION, GRANTS
Assistance needed to feed workers in Riegelwood
Volunteers are urgently needed during the next two weeks to help staff the United Methodist mobile kitchen serving three meals daily to volunteers making repairs from the November 2006 tornadoes in Riegelwood. To volunteer to prepare, serve, and/or clean up, please contact Phil Platter at 919-499-7803.
Items needed to complete UMCOR emergency kits
MERCI needs the following items to complete UMCOR emergency kits: toothpaste, metal nail files, large combs, hand towels, lined loose leaf notebook paper, and cloth diapers. Deliver to 676 Community Drive, Goldsboro 27530. Questions, call: 1-888-440-9167.
Pray with ZOE Ministry
ZOE Ministry was launched in June 2004 with a vision of caring for orphans and vulnerable children in Zimbabwe. What has become obvious to the ZOE Board is that God's vision for this ministry is far greater than we originally understood. With many exciting opportunities on the horizon, the ZOE Board would like to invite you to join us in a season of prayer and fasting, April 2-6. To register as a partner in this time of seeking God for ZOE Ministry, please go to Fasting for ZOE Daily devotions and prayer points will be sent by e-mail.
Come to the Table: Food, Faith and Farms:
Join your brothers and sisters in Christ from across the state in three one-day regional conferences focused on the church's role in sustaining local agriculture and hunger in our communities. Each one-day session will gather faith leaders, hunger advocates, farmers and others for conversations about how North Carolinians can honor the land and feed the hungry together.
Dates and Locations: April 10, St. Luke's United Methodist Church in Goldsboro;
April 11, Cedar Grove United Methodist Church in Orange County
April 13, Biltmore United Methodist Church in Asheville.
Register today at: Come to the Table
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 Grants
Tornado and Storm Disaster Response
Dozens of tornadoes recently ripped though Missouri, Illinois, Alabama, Georgia, and Florida killing at least 20 people. UMCOR has released several emergency grants, to support the initial response. You can give to this on-going response my making a gift to Domestic Disaster Response, Advance #901670.
CONNECT 2007 - SEJ UMVIM Celebration - Register On-Lin
CONNECT, a United Methodist Volunteers in Mission Southeast Jurisdiction annual event, will be held Lake Junaluska, June 27-29. CONNECT allows participants to share experiences from their short-term mission trips, gain insight and resources from a variety of workshops, network with domestic and international projects and missionaries, and worship together during inspiring sessions that incorporate a diverse speakers and venues. For more information and to register: CONNECT07
Glean with Society of St.Andrew
Contact the Society of St. Andrew and ask how your church can become a "Gleaning Congregation." You can also make a gift to the Society of St. Andrew through the Conference Advance Special. Donations can be made by noting on your gift envelope and check - Society of St. Andrew, Advance #00081 and placing the donation in a local church collection plate. 100% of your donation goes for to this ministry. For more information contact: Rev. Julia Webb-Bowden at 919-683-3011 or ncglean@endhunger.org .
Rural Church Key Taylor Award Nominations
The NC Conference Missions Team invites rural churches to submit a nomination for the Key Taylor Award. The award will include a $1,438.27 missions gift provided through the United Methodist Foundation for use in your outreach ministry. The purpose of this award is to call attention to the mission work of all rural churches by honoring the specific achievements of one rural church.
The criteria for the selection process is as follows: 1) The church is in a community of less than 1,500 people, 2) The church has 250 members or less, 3) The church is significantly involved in community mission, 4) The church shows faithfulness in its stewardship of the mission and service commitments (apportionments) and supports Advance Specials, and 5) The church displays commitment to growth in ministry and perseverance toward accomplishing their vision of ministry.
Provide a one page description of local church mission work for the past year. E-mail submissions to the Office of Mission no later than April 30 and please send a copy to the District Superintendent. Be sure to include the church name and district. The award winner will be announced at Annual Conference. E-mail to: beckybiegger@nccumc.org
