LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES
Retirement seminar for clergy
The 2007 Financial/Retirement Planning Workshop for clergy and spouse is scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 12, at St. Paul UMC in Goldsboro. Information provided applies to retirement in the next 10 to 20 years and to clergy new to the United Methodist ministry. Space is limited and the registration deadline has been extended to Aug. 29 . Additional information and a brochure is available from the Conference Pension website , or contact JoAnna Cafferty in the Conference Treasurer's office (ext. 225). Mission Team to La Esperanza Sheltered Workshop in Santiago, Chile
Slots available for a “journey inward – journey outward” with missionary, the Rev. Shana Harrison, Nov. 12 – 21. Estimated cost is $1075 for airfare, $100 for a one-time entry fee for Chile, and in-country cost will be approximately $500 (may be some slight changes.) Afternoons will be filled with bible study, biblical animation, and visits to historical and contemporary sites where group might engage in considerations of justice. Evenings will be reflections of the lives of individuals in Christ as incarnational dwelling. To read personal stories of the event and learn more about La Esperanza, please see: www.laesperanza.org $500 deposit is due by Aug. 30, made out to NC Conference UMC – Chile Trip. For more information, contact Becky Biegger in the Office of Missions, 800-849-4433 ext 256 or beckybiegger@nccumc.org
Conference Historical Society to meet in Murfreesboro
The Fall Meeting of the N.C Conference Historical Society will be held in Murfreesboro on Sept. 22. Everyone is invited. The group will meet at 9:30am at Murfreesboro UMC for fellowship and business. Lunch and tour of the Jefcoat Museum of Americana will take place in the afternoon. The cost of the lunch and tour, if you wish to participate, is $15.00. Please make your check out to Murfreesboro UMC, mail to the church: PO Box 392, Murfreesboro, NC 27855-0392, attention Rev. Arthur Warren. Reservations for lunch need to be made by Sept. 13. Contact awarren@nccumc.org or archives-history@nccucm.org with any questions.
Workshop explores practices of eating, growing, sharing food
“Land • Bread • Body: Taken, Blessed, Broken Given” — A two day gathering Oct. 5-6, will explore the Christian practices of eating, growing, and sharing food. Through lectures, discussions, workshops, and all-local meals, participants will be invited to think about how the Lord 's table transforms food practices at individual tables, and how the rural church has a unique ministry in helping urban churches embody these practices. Cedar Grove United Methodist Church and Anathoth Community Garden in Cedar Grove is the location. For more information please see Duke Divinity or contact amanda.wallace@duke.edu (919) 383-0615, x105. The event is funded by the Valparaiso Project Practice Grant, The Duke Endowment, and Duke Divinity School.
Treasurer/Finance Training
Two separate sessions of Local Church Treasurer/Finance Training will be held on Saturday, Nov. 3, and Saturday, Dec.1, 10 am-2:30 pm at the United Methodist Building in Raleigh. Some of the topics to be covered include apportionments, W-2 preparation, sales tax filing and reimbursements, employee vs. contractor status, etc. A $5 registration fee will be collected to help offset the cost of lunch. Space is limited so e-mail epicket@nccumc.org or call 800-849-4433 to reserve a seat. Training is open to all. Local church treasurers, finance committee members and pastors are encouraged to attend.
Ministry resource from the Office of Missions
"Street Smarts" is a five hour learning event (three hours for the abridged version) for all persons who desire to make a difference in their community through LOVE IN ACTION! The Poverty Simulation is a key facet of the learning, a role playing venture where living will be simulated on the economic margins. For more information call Becky Biegger or Steve Taylor at 800-849-4433 ext 256 or 257 or email: beckybiegger@nccumc.org or staylor@nccumc.org .
MISSION RESPONSE OPPORTUNITIES
Katrina Recovery Appeal
As the second anniversary of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita approaches, the need continues for prayers, volunteers, partners, and donations in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. Gifts go directly to the rebuilding of UM churches, parsonages, and other facilities as well as to salaries for support staff, training for lay leadership, and efforts to grow congregations where membership has declined. People can make contributions through local church offerings or online through Katrina Note on your check, Katrina Church Recovery Appeal #818-001. If your local church did not take part in the Aug. 26 Katrina Special Offering, consider this on some other Sunday. For more information, please see: Katrina Appeal
Response to Peruvian Earthquake
In the recent earthquake in Peru, over 600 people were killed, an entire region was devastated, and many of our Methodist churches have been heavily damaged or destroyed at a time when they are needed the most. A way to respond to the massive suffering is to give to the United Methodist Committee on Relief Advance – Peru Earthquake #982450. See Earthquake Response at: Conference Website
For more information please see Peruvian Bishop Bravo's letter of solidarity found at: Bishop Letter .
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. For further questions, contact Beth Jenks @ 919-550-0275 or beth@zoeministry.org
Church and Community Missionary Gary Locklear
Gary Locklear is a General Board of Global Ministry missioner from and serving in the Conference in the area in and around Robeson County. Support for Gary can be made through Advance Giving by making an offering through a church (made out to your church) with the designation to support Advance # 982955 Gary Locklear. One hundred percent of your gift will go toward Gary's support. For more information also see our missionaries: Our Missionaries . To view Gary's bio: Gary Bio
Robeson County Church and Community Center needs assistance
The Church and Community Center, serving the 2 nd most diverse rural county in the U.S. and the 3 rd most impoverished of its size, needs assistance. Grant funding is down and the needs of the community are up. Consider a donation to this ministry serving the most vulnerable of our NC neighbors. You can make a donation through your local church offering. Please note on the check: Robeson County Church and Community Center – Advance #791742 or you can mail your check directly to the Church and Community Center at: Robeson County Church and Community Center, 210 East 15th Street, Lumberton, NC 28358
ANNOUNCEMENTS / GENERAL INFORMATION
Christian Education Month
The month of September has traditionally been designated Christian Education Month in the North Carolina Conference. Materials are available for celebrating the ministries of education and spiritual formation online through The General Board of Discipleship. These include a litany for teachers and leaders: Education Cokesbury's website Sunday School has many helpful and free resources including posters to promote Sunday School located here: Cokesbury Need ideas for curriculum or adult bible study resources? Remember to contact the North Carolina Conference Media Center, Laura Bailey, director, llbailey@nccumc.org Visit the online searchable catalog: Media Center
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. For instructions on the process and request and reporting forms at: Grants
Program Coordinator for Operation Sharehouse (Stop Hunger Now)
Stop Hunger Now, a NC Conference and General Board of Global Ministries Advance Special, seeks a Program Coordinator to work in Goldsboro with its food ministry Operation Sharehouse. For a detailed job description, visit Stop Hunger Now . To apply, send cover letter and resume to info@stophungernow.org .
Igniting Ministry advertising on TV, Internet
Be on the watch and alert your members about Igniting Ministry advertisement spots on television from Sept. 3-16. The Back-to-School emphasis will include ads from “ The Journey ” series. There will be 1,215 spots on networks including CNN, MSNBC, TBS SuperStation, TVLand, Oxygen, Univision and GalaVision, the Weather Channel, SciFi, USA, and others.
The impact of the television ads will be strengthened with an Internet advertising strategy to reach a 22-44 year old demographic group. On August 20, the United Methodist Church began advertising for eight weeks across sites including Yahoo.com, eHarmony, Beliefnet, and About.com. Placement strategies will range from display ads to rich media to polling, and link to www.UnitedMethodist.org and our www.Find-a-church.org For more information about Igniting Ministries, go to www.Ignitingministry.org .
