MERCI seeking air conditioning units
MERCI needs donations of working window air conditioning units for clients suffering from the current heat wave. To donate one, either new or used, please contact Ann Huffman at 1-888-440-9167 or ahuffman@nccumc.org .
DVDs available for the special services at Annual Conference
To order a DVD of one of the special services from Annual Conference, go to DVD Orders (requires Acrobat Reader), print and complete the form. Each DVD costs $8 to cover production expenses and postage. Make checks payable to the NC Conference and mail them to The Communications Office, PO Box 10955, Raleigh NC 27605 by June 30. Services available on DVD are the Ordination Service, Ben Witherington's Bible studies and Thursday evening sermon, the All Saints/Memorial Service, the Bishop's State of the Church Address, the Retiree Recognition Service, and the Friday evening Laity event with Dr. Leonard Sweet.
Pastors, change your contact information
All persons in appointive positions and particularly pastors moving to a new appointment should immediately change their contact information in the On-Line Data Collection System.. If assistance is needed with the data system, contact Jennifer Echert at jechert@nccumc.org . This information will be used to compile the conference directory for 2008-09.
FROM THE OFFICE OF CHILDREN, YOUTH, AND YOUNG ADULTS
Shepherding 21 st Century: Cyber landscape, Cyber ministry, Cyber safety
Four workshops throughout the Conference will be offered this fall on the subject of cyber safety and cyber ministry. Dates and locations include Sept. 6 at Haymount UMC-Fayetteville, Sept. 20 at White Plains UMC-Cary, Sept. 27 at Wesley Memorial UMC-Wilmington and Nov. 15 at Edenton UMC in Edenton. Each workshop is on a Saturday morning and runs from 9:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. The cost of the workshop is $5 per person and registrations must be received at least 10 days prior to the date attending. One person from a church can register for the group. The brochure with more details and the registration form can Cybersafety
ACS Registration Deadline
The deadline for high school youth to register to attend ACS (July 21-26 at Methodist University) is July 1. There are limited spaces so registering as soon as possible is advised. The registration form may be found in the 2008 Youth Events brochure at Youth Ministry . At ACS, youth elect and select their Conference youth ministry and district representative leadership for the coming year.
Godly Play Workshop
The Chapel of the Cross Episcopal Church in Chapel Hill is hosting a Godly Play Teacher Accreditation and Re-Accreditation event on Sept. 11 – 13. For more information on Godly Play and how this program may benefit the children in your church, visit the website: Godlyplay . For more information about the September event, call the church (919-929-2193) and speak with Boykin Bell or email her at bbell@thechapelofthecross.org .
Award of Excellence in Youth Ministry
The Award of Excellence in Youth Ministry is presented at Pilgrimage each year. The application deadline is Aug. 31. The application is available at the website: Youth Ministry
Youth Group Involvement at Pilgrimage
Youth groups may contribute to leadership at Pilgrimage in a variety of ways. The deadline to sign up for any of these opportunities is Aug. 31. Individual youth may apply to be considered for the house band (auditions will be required and an audition date scheduled for early fall). To obtain the house band application, please request it via email to senicholson@nccumc.org . Youth groups may offer an act of worship during the sessions. Details about what act of worship would be offered should be emailed to senicholson@nccumc.org .Youth groups may create a video of their group interpreting the Pilgrimage theme “Pass it On” and submit that to Youth Ministry, PO Box 10955, Raleigh, NC 27605. Youth groups may create a portion of the stage visuals – any youth groups desiring to be part of this project should contact Sue Ellen Nicholson at the Methodist Building as soon as possible for details.
FROM THE OFFICE OF MISSIONS AND JUSTICE MINISTRIES
Jerusalem Ark - Kids for Hope – Supporting children & youth in Palestine
“Kids For Hope” shares the love of Jesus with the dwindling Christian community in Palestine, especially the children, by bringing them from communities and towns throughout Palestine into peaceful settings for several days of Christian fellowship, fun activities and worship. The goals are to give a space for peace for children who often face daily violence, provide solid Christian education for youth who have almost no Christian educational resources, and to create a forum for Christian fellowship for children, youth, and adults who are consistently separated by walls and soldiers. Please consider entering into this important ministry of empowerment, Christian education, and evangelism with Christian children and youth in Palestine. For more information, contact the Rev. Harold Salmon at revfish@nccumc.org or by phone: (910) 628-7427.
Tornado Response
Tornadoes and severe storms continue to rake the nation. Many regions face a long recovery. UMCOR is working with affected annual conferences to assess damage, help with the long-term recovery plans, and provide assistance to meet emergency needs. Support all these annual conferences affected by these violent storms with gifts to Domestic Disaster Response, UMCOR Advance # 901670. You can give online at: Tornado Response – Gifts or place gifts in the local Sunday offering and mark the envelope: Disaster Response, United States - #901670. Please continue to pray for all survivors in the US and around the world who are dealing with violent weather.
Robeson County Church and Community Center needs assistance
The Church and Community Center, serving the 2nd most diverse rural county in the U.S. and the 3rd most impoverished of its size, desperately needs your support. Grant funding is down and the needs of the community are up. This leaves the Center in very difficult financial times. Please consider a donation to this wondrous 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. For more information please contact 910-738-5204 or email: rccccdir@ncrrbiz.com .
Robeson County Church and Community Center – Summer work teams
The Robeson County Church and Community Center has openings for summer work teams. Many impoverished brothers and sisters in Robeson County face severe housing conditions. Please consider sending a youth/adult work team to this culturally unique setting and work to build God's Kingdom by working with our needy neighbors. Your efforts will spread the love of Christ and will be the difference between security and the streets. Please call the Robeson County Church and Community Center and reserve a space today! 910-738-5204 or email: rccccdir@ncrrbiz.com
UMCOR Worldwide Hunger Response Addressing the Food Crisis
In the midst of what is being called a "perfect storm" for a worldwide food crisis, the United Methodist Committee on Relief is there. Helping vulnerable survivors of war or natural disaster become food secure is a key part of UMCOR's work throughout the world. All of UMCOR's field offices have food security programs as an element of their work. Another program, UMCOR's Sustainable Agriculture and Development Program helps small-scale farmers in Africa learn new techniques for growing their food. They learn how to grow more food for less money or how to grow and process new—and more nutritious—crops. They forge farmer-to-farmer relationships that often develop into collaborative efforts. Financial gifts to Global Food Crisis, UMCOR Advance # 3019696 will ensure that these important programs can continue at the same or increased levels as costs and needs continue to multiply. This Advance will also support new programs to help those most vulnerable to hunger because of the crisis.
The 14th Annual Samuel DeWitt Proctor Institute for Child Advocacy Ministry
Join clergy, seminarians, Christian educators, young adult leaders, and other faith-based advocates for children July 14-18 at CDF Haley Farm in Clinton, TN for five days of spiritual renewal, networking, movement building workshops, and continuing education about the health and economic threats to children and ways to address the issue. The $400 five-day registration fee covers all sessions, meals, and materials. For more information and registration information, go to Samuel DeWitt Proctor Institute – Sponsored by the Children's Defense Fund, UM General Board of Church and Society, and others.
Nothing But Nets
Every 30 seconds, a child dies from malaria, more than a million children a year. For only $10, one of the most effective preventive measures for malaria, mosquito nets, can be provided: Nothing But Nets is the UM outreach effort to change this reality. By answering Jesus' call to "minister to the least of these who are members of our family," future generations can be saved from this disease. Donate by placing a gift in the Sunday offering and noting on the check: Nothing But Nets – Advance #982015. 100% of your donation will go toward this gift of nets.
Runoff Elections in Zimbabwe – June 27 – Please pray
The United Methodist Church has invested itself for decades in Zimbabwe, building a university, starting churches and sending missionaries to address its almost unfathomable social and economic ills. Multitudes have met Christ through the ministry and proclamation of the United Methodist Church. Our brothers and sisters are now in deep jeopardy. Please pray for the elections to come and the continuing work of our United Methodist Church in Zimbabwe. For more information please see: Pray for Zimbabwe .
WHA passes resolution calling for a Global Alcohol Strategy
At its May 2008 World Health Assembly (WHA), the World Health Organization (WHO) approved a resolution calling for a global alcohol strategy. The General Board of Church and Society was a key player in this successful resolution. The resolution will intensify the work of the WHO to curb the harmful use of alcohol, the fifth leading risk factor for death and disability in the world. For more information please see: Call for a Global Alcohol Strategy
Church and Society Listserv
A Church & Society/Social Concerns listserv has been created to keep persons interested in societal and justice issues apprised of the UM response and action on pivotal issues. You are welcome to join the listserv by providing the name and email address of your congregation's Church & Society coordinator and all other interested folks. Please pass this information to Becky Biegger at beckybiegger@nccumc.org with the email subject line “Church & Society Listserv.”
Welcoming the Sojourner
"Welcoming the Sojourner” Sept. 11-13 will respond to the Immigration debate from a Biblical faith perspective. Co-sponsored by the Arkansas Board of Church and Society, Arkansas Justice for Our Neighbors, and the General Board of Church and Society, the event will be held at Hendrix College in Conway,AR. Workshops will include What's Happening in Washington on Immigration; Immigration and Race; Root Causes of Immigration, A Primer on Immigration Law, the Bible and Immigration; Organizing United Methodist for Comprehensive Immigration Reform; and the Local Church as a Place of Outreach and Ministry. For more information and reservations please see: Welcoming the Sojourner
MERCI Ministries Center fund raising
In 1999, the Cape Hatteras lighthouse was moved in order to secure it for the future. On Nov. 13, 1999, the lighthouse was relit. A composite photo of the lighted and day time lighthouse with the prayer offered on the occasion by the Rev. Jim Huskins, is now available. The net proceeds will go to benefit the MERCI (Disaster Recovery and Missions support) Center. Prints available include 11X14 ($15.00), 16X20 ($20.00) - plus shipping costs. Both sizes are also available on a stiff back for a higher price: 11X14 w/backing ($26.00) and 16X20 w/backing ($32.00) plus shipping costs. Wholesale orders of 10 or more can be filled at a savings of 10%. Contact Jim Huskins, program director at 888-440-9167 or jhuskins@nccumc.org .
Programs from the Office of Missions
· All programs utilize adult popular education teaching methodology, i.e., high engagement and very interactive.
· Globalization – It's Impact on God's World & How You can Make a Difference – 2 to 6 hour in- depth study, scripturally based with high interaction & multi-media.
· Street Smarts – the Road to Risk Taking Ministry – discerning and empowering congregations for local mission.
· Thy Kingdom Come – Moving from Charity to Justice, living as Disciples to Transform the World.
· Your Connected Ministry – Ministries you are doing as connected churches in the NC Conference (overview of mission opportunities.)
· Proclaiming Peace in a Time of Perpetual War – 2 – 4 hour workshop – scripturally based with high interaction and multi-media
· La Esperanza Sheltered Workshop in Chile and Rev. Shana Harrison, Missionary – A Portrait of Hope
· Liberia – Land of Spirit, Land of Hope, Connecting with the Least.
· Missions – A Journey of Spirit and Justice – 6 to 8 weekly sessions, journeying in the life of Jesus, considering how we make that same journey today. Using the dynamic Biblical Animation (created by theologian, Ched Myers) – reading scripture in today's context.
· Reading scripture in our context …
· Changing the World through the Animation of God's Word and the implementation of Sabbath Economics … learning the techniques and possibilities of Biblical Animation, recontextualizing scripture into our contemporary reality (developed by theologian and teacher – Ched Myers) … 1 ½ to 2 hour session.
Other mission 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.
