DISASTER RESPONSE
Response to Peruvian Earthquake
In the recent earthquake in Peru, over 600 people were killed, an entire region was devastated, and many Methodist churches were heavily damaged or destroyed at a time when they are needed the most. Assistance is needed to help alleviate the massive suffering. Please give to the United Methodist Committee on Relief Advance - Peru Earthquake #982450. Please see Earthquake Response at: NC Missions For more information please see Peruvian Bishop Bravo's letter of solidarity found at: Letter
Caribbean : Hurricane Dean Response
Hurricane Dean tore through the Caribbean Aug.19-21. Jamaica and Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula took the direct hit from Hurricane Dean after it had lashed the coastlines of Haiti, Belize and other Caribbean nations. This massive storm that struck Mexico as a rare category 5 hurricane weakened after crossing the Yucatan Peninsula, but may gain strength before it makes landfall again. UMCOR is contacting partners in the region to determine its response. UMCOR provides assistance for long-term recovery that lasts months and sometimes years after a major storm like Hurricane Dean. Pray for those thousands who are affected by Hurricane Dean. Gifts are imperative to UMCOR's response. Funds for UMCOR's response to 2007 hurricanes are low as this is the first major storm of the season. Please give generously to support UMCOR's work through Hurricanes 2007, UMCOR Advance #982511 by simply placing a gift in your Sunday offering. If mailing your check, along with the Advance name and number, please note your church and district on the check and send to: The NC Conference/Raleigh Area; Attention: UMCOR Advance #982511 - Hurricanes 2007; PO Box 60053, Charlotte, NC 28260-0053.
SUNDAY/WEEKEND OBSERVANCES
Disciple Bible Outreach Ministries Sunday is Aug. 26
On Aug. 26, Disciple Bible Outreach Ministries (DBOM) Sunday will be observed in the Churches of the WNCC and NCC and a Special Offering received. DBOM has taught the Bible to 7,000 incarcerated men, women and youth in NC. In addition, DBOM is bringing free Disciple Bible Study training to every UMC district in NC. A great portion of DBOM's yearly needs are met through this Special Offering so every church's participation is vital to this ongoing ministry. Envelopes have been packaged for each church along with a 5-minute DVD for use on DBOM Sunday. These are available for pick-up in the district offices.
Need A Speaker for Legacy Sunday?
As plans are completed for the Legacy Sunday observant on Sept. 9, consider inviting a member of the Legacy Partners group to speak during the worship service or during Sunday school. For more information, or to submit your request for a speaker, please contact Jim at jmentzer@nccumc.org . You may also call him at 1-800-555-4718 or 919-836-0029.
Children's Sabbath Resources
General Conference has made Children's Sabbath one of the official observances of the United Methodist Church. Here is information and resources: Children need help now more than ever, participating in the National Observance of Children's Sabbaths ® Celebration the weekend of Oct. 19 - 21 is a simple, yet necessary, step for creating a Safe Harbor of Hope and Health Care for All Children. The Children's Defense Fund developed the National Observance of Children's Sabbaths ® Manual . In addition to providing worship and educational materials, direct service activities, and social justice initiatives for a congregation's National Observance of Children's Sabbaths ® Celebration to be held Oct.19-21, the manual offers assistance year round. To order a manual ($8 plus shipping and handling) (click here ) or call ( 865) 457-6466 . For more information, please visit www.childrensdefense.org/Childrens_Sabbaths or contact Matt Rosen at mrosen@childrensdefense.org . Bulk order rates are also available.
MISSION OPPORTUNITIES
Urgent -ZOE School Kit Delivery
Any ZOE School Kits that have been collected this summer should be delivered to the designated district collection sites by Aug. 25. Call the church before delivering kits to assure that someone is there to receive them. Collection sites and School Kit contents links are listed below. District collection sites: Collection Sites . For specifics on the school kits: ZOE School Kits These kits will be collected the last week of August from the district sites and sent to the container at MERCI for shipment. If you have questions, please contact Beth Jenks - beth@zoeministry.org or 919-550-0275.
ZOE School Kit Packing Party! You are Needed!
ZOE Ministry is asking for volunteers to help pack school kits on Saturday, Sept. 8, beginning at 9:30 am at the MERCI Center. Any help will be greatly appreciated. For further questions, please contact Beth Jenks @ 919-550-0275 or beth@zoeministry.org
Church and Community Grant requests due Sept. 30
Church and Community Grant requests are due to the Office of
Missions no later than Sept. 30 to be considered Year 2008. Faxed or emailed copies are acceptable if followed with a hard copy. If grants are approved, funds will normally be distributed by the end March. For downloading the process and the appropriate request and reporting forms at: Grants
Work Team to El Salvador
A NC Conference work team to El Salvador is scheduled for Nov. 3-10. Cost will be $950 and a passport is required. The team will work with the Evangelical Methodist Church of El Salvador and will assist in building a home with a local family. You can learn more about NC UMVIM at: NC VIM For more trip related information, please contact trip leader, John Benson at 252-996-0905 or email at jbenson23@embarqmail.com
Feed hungry neighbors in North Carolina
Church members aged 3 to 93, can get involved with a great hands-on ministry opportunity accomplished in a field in NC. The Society of St. Andrew can make this mission a reality and help feed our neighbors who are the most vulnerable. Contact Society of St. Andrew at: SOSANC or call (866) 453-2662. See: Endhunger . Please give to NC Advance, (#S-00081) and see the Rainbow Covenant for more information: Humanitarian Relief
Feed our hungry neighbors around the World
Join with Stop Hunger Now in Operation Sharehouse, a hands-on ministry for churches and local communities, where you pack food that very well may save the lives of vulnerable global neighbors. For more information, please see: Stop Hunger Now or call (919) 839-0689. You can support Stop Hunger Now by giving to NC Advance #S-00101. See the Rainbow Covenant for more information: Rainbow Covenant
Missionary needs your Support
Vickie Sigmon, is one of the NC Conference sponsored missionaries serving as a Church and Community Worker in Winston-Salem (Advance #982916). She works in a high risk community developing Christian community, promoting social justice and proclaiming God's loving presence. Vickie needs your support. If you don't currently support a United Methodist missionary, consider a covenant relationship with Vickie. For information on conference missionaries, please see: NC Missionaries . Consider supporting Vickie through the Rainbow Covenant.
YOUTH MINISTRIES - Dates, reminders
Aug. 31 Youth ministries deadline
· Aug. 31 is the deadline for the following:
· Award of Excellence in Youth Ministry applications - available at www.nccumc.org/youthministry
Matters related to Pilgrimage:
· House band applications - available from senicholson@nccumc.org until August 24 then available from rharry@nccumc.org
· Youth testimonies - must be submitted in writing to senicholson@nccumc.org
· Youth group acts of worship - must be submitted to senicholson@nccumc.org
· Youth group videos/DVD's - must be mailed to Youth Ministry, PO Box 10955, Raleigh, NC 27605
Spiritual Formation in Youth Ministry Workshops
For local church adult leaders in youth ministry - Fayetteville District: Saturday, Aug. 25, 10 am-12 pm, Hay St UMC and Rocky Mount District: Sunday, Oct. 7, 3-5 pm, Englewood UMC. Contact the district youth coordinator for more information - listed on the "District" page of www.nccumc.org/youthministry .
Safe Sanctuaries Workshops
Workshops are being offered to primarily small, rural churches that have not adopted a safe sanctuaries policy and procedures. There is no cost or registration required to attend. All are on Sunday afternoons from 3-5pm. The workshop dates and locations are: Sept.9 - Kenansville UMC, Sept. 16 - Scotland Neck UMC, Sept. 23 - Vass UMC, Oct. 28 - Helena UMC (Durham District).
ANNOUNCEMENTS / GENERAL INFORMATION
Bishop's Day Apart
Don Curtis, a member of Edenton Street UMC and a primary supporter of the Academy for Leadership Excellence, will be a speaker during the Bishop's Day Apart, Tuesday, Sept. 11, Nashville UMC. There will also be a presentation on the new Healthy Clergy Initiative of The Duke Endowment. Refreshments will begin at 9:30 am and the program will begin at 10 am. Box lunches will be provided. The Day Apart will end around 3 pm.
Church Construction Project Manager -- immediate job opening
The Board of Missions, Inc. has an opening for a Church Construction Project Manager to supervise church building projects, including subcontracted operations. Solid speaking, writing, and computer skills needed. Must have, or be willing and able to acquire an NC General Contractor's License. Applications must be received by Sept. 14. For further details: Employment Opportunity
Conference Directory
The 2007-2008 Conference Directory is on the website. Printed copies are scheduled to be mailed at the end of August. Information in the directories was compiled from data provided by local pastors for the On-Line Data Collection System. Periodic updates will be made to the directory on the website.
What is your favorite and least favorite United Methodist hymn?
GBOD is conducting a survey of the 10 favorite and 10 lease favorite hymns in either The United Methodist Hymnal (1989) and/or The Faith We Sing (2000) . The survey consists of the alphabetical listing of both books' contents and a check box for each title. Selections are made by "clicking" on the appropriate 10 boxes. No more than 10 can be selected. Browsing through the hymnal before taking the survey may assist in the selections. The survey information will be used to help us plan for future resources in congregational singing and in identifying changes and trends in musical style. To take the survey, go to Favorite Hymns .
