ANNUAL CONFERENCE RELATED
Change in procedure for ECU housing during annual conference
To designate housing at ECU (College Hill Suites) during Annual Conference in Greenville, June 13-16, lay and clergy members should use the purple housing sheet provided in a recent mailing. The online registration option has been removed. Questions: Call the Conference Secretary's office at 1-800-849-4433 or e-mail smedlin@nccumc.org.
Guests of conference members may stay in the dorm at ECU at a cost of $80 for single room and $65 for a double room. Please submit payment, made payable to NC Conference, with registration form. Questions: Call or e-mail Conference Secretary.
Check in at College Hill Suites is from noon until 2 pm on June 13. Later registrations will be held at Todd Dining Hall, next to the suites. After 2 pm on June 13, a note on the door at College Hill Suites should give directions to Todd Hall.
Clergy Partners hold 78 th Annual Luncheon on June 14
The Clergy Partners Association will hold its 78th Annual Luncheon on Thursday, June 14, during Annual Conference in Greenville. The luncheon will be held in City Hotel & Bistro -Salons 2 & 3. The theme of the luncheon is "Working in the Light of God." Following the meal, Wray Stephens, executive director NC UM Camp & Retreat Ministries, will be the speaker. A memorial service and a short business meeting will follow. All clergy partners are invited to attend. To register, contact Elaine Teague at 919-563-6063 or elaine.teague@sas.com . For a registration form: Clergy Partners
EVENTS DURING APRIL
Aging - A Spiritual Journey
A conference-wide event for Older Adults and those working with Older Adults will be held at Garner UMC on May 9 from 9 am - 3:30 pm. The deadline for registration is April 18. The Rev. Vernon Tyson will be the worship leader and the keynote speaker will be Linda K. George, a teacher at Duke University and a researcher on the connection between religion and good health. There will be eight workshops offered during the day. More information is available at -- Older Adult Ministries .
Conference Youth Rally Day
Youth groups are invited to attend Conference Youth Rally Day on Sunday, April 22, from 3-6 pm at NC Wesleyan College in Rocky Mount. The Rally Day will consist of recreation and fellowship time concluding with a worship service. It will take place on the south lawn of the College campus unless there is inclement weather in which case the activities will move into the gymnasium. There is no cost to attend and no need to pre-register to attend although there will be an offering taken for Youth Service Fund and YSF items as well as refreshments on sale.
Gathering of Elders on April 23 at Nashville UMC
Spiritual Formation will be the focus of the Gathering of the Order of Elders on Monday, April 23, at Nashville UMC. An informal time of fellowship will begin at 9 am. The opening plenary begins at 10 am and lunch will be served at noon. The afternoon plenary will begin at 1 pm, with a closing worship service to be held at 2:30 pm. Dr. Robert Mulholland will be the keynote speaker. Bishop Al Gwinn will be the celebrant for Holy Communion.
No pre-registration is necessary. Questions to Mack McMillan at smcmillan@nccumc.org or call him at (910) 276-6821.
Cokesbury Celebration Days April 26-28
Attend Cokesbury Celebration Days on Thursday - Saturday, April 26-28. Save 25% on books, Bibles, gifts, greeting cards, and more. Refreshments will be served. In the Raleigh Store on Thursday, April 26, 12 noon - 2 pm, Dr. Belton Joyner will be autographing his new books: The Unofficial United Methodist Handbook, The Unofficial United Methodist Handbook for Pastors and United Methodist Questions, United Methodist Answers.
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 or one rural charge.
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.
5. The church displays commitment towards growth in ministry and perseverance toward accomplishing their vision of ministry.
Simply provide a one page description of your mission work for the past year. E-mail your submission to the Office of Mission no later than April 30 and please copy to your District Superintendent. Be sure to include the name of your church and your district. The award winner will be announced at Annual Conference. Email to: beckybiegger@nccumc.org
MAY EVENT REMINDER
How to develop a Coaching Ministry
The Academy for Leadership Excellence is hosting a seminar led by the Rev. Jim Griffith, national expert in coaching, church planting, and transformational leadership processes on Tuesday, May 15, 9 am - 4 pm at Edenton Street UMC, 228 W. Edenton Street, Raleigh. Plan to attend if you are a pastor seeking to enhance your coaching skills; setting up a congregational coaching system; or coaching paid and unpaid church staff. Cost is $39 which includes lunch. Register at ibrownlee@nccumc.org . More information at Academy .
JUNE EVENT REMINDER
Youth event registrations
Spaces are available for senior high youth on the Appalachian Trail Hike and at ACS (Annual Conference Session for youth). The Trail Hike will be June 23-30. The registration deadline is May 15. ACS will be July 23-28 at Methodist University in Fayetteville. The registration deadline for ACS is July 1. There are limited spaces for both these events so early registration is advised! The 2007 Youth Events Brochure has registration forms and full cost information for these events. The brochure can be downloaded from Youth Ministry .
MISSION ITEMS
Project AGAPE Vehicle Need
Several congregations through our Conference have joined in an effort to provide Project AGAPE with a new vehicle for the very important work of refugee relief. A generous donor is willing to match a large portion of the vehicle cost. If you wish to join this important facet of the AGAPE Advance, please send your donations to: Missions Office, 1307 Glenwood Ave., Raleigh, NC, 27605. Please note on your check - AGAPE Vehicle. One hundred percent of your offering will go to this effort.
CONNECT 2007 - SEJ UMVIM Celebration - Register On-Line
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, please see: Connect07 .
ZOE opportunities for VBS directors and mission coordinators
This summer, ZOE Ministry (Zimbabwe Orphans Endeavor) has an exciting mission that can easily be incorporated into the local church VBS curriculum. ZOE is collecting student/teacher school kits for orphaned and vulnerable children of Africa that will help supply them with basic supplies needed for their education.
The ZOE VBS Mission Kit will contain:
- Short, inspirational, and informational videos designed for children with music and images of African children
- Scripted dialog for daily mission moments with prayers
- Interactive object lessons about ZOE orphans in school
- Orphan stories
- Set-up instructions for packing school kits
To receive a free mission kit, contact: Beth Jenks, beth@zoeministry.org or call (919) 550-0275.
