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Friday Evening Worship and Celebration

June 19, 2016

Prospect UMC
The Friday evening worship service began with soul-stirring music delivered by the choir from Prospect United Methodist Church in Maxton. The music set the tone for a celebratory event of the ministries of the laity. The Order of Deacons led the worship service.

Guest preacher, Bishop Gregory Palmer presented a plaque to Bishop Hope Morgan Ward and Gary Locklear, Conference Lay Leader to celebrate the conference effort on behalf of Imagine No Malaria which raised almost $1,121,000.

There was discussion of the Mission of Hope for Sierra Leone which deals with the rebuilding of Rotifunk Hospital in Sierra Leone to serve to over 145,000 people. It was apparent in the presentation that this ministry would take more than just financial assistance; the true need is “hands” to change the plight of the people in Sierra Leone especially the morbidity and mortality rates of children and infants. The 70 percent level of illiteracy has a direct impact upon gainful employment that could be utilized to help pull the country and its people out of abject poverty but also provides an opportunity for the Church to be in practical life-changing ministry.

The stage was set for Bishop Palmer’s sermon, using Luke 24:28-32 as the biblical foundation. Bishop Palmer reiterated that each person needs to live into the fact that everyone they meet is a beloved child of God. The question was posed that if people who we encounter for the first time would leave with the impression that they were beloved and treasured.

Bishop Palmer also reminded the gathered that Christians are to be the Church and to not spend time trying to save the church. The Church belongs to God and only God can change the church. This sermon set the tone to reinvigorate and reorient the thinking of both the laity and clergy to understand that the Gospel is a gift to be shared and to realize that we all are the beloved of God.

Filed Under: General Tagged With: Annual Conference 2016, Bishop Gregory Palmer, North Carolina Annual Conference, Prospect UMC, Rotifunk Hospital

Thursday Evening:  A Night of Great Gifts

June 17, 2016

Bishop Palmer Thursday nightA

The Thursday evening worship began with energetic praise and worship led by the gifted Praise team from Fuquay-Varina UMC. The gathering music by the Praise Band stirred the youth to dance through the convention hall.

Jaye White, Outreach Ministry Team Coordinator and Project AGAPE missionary in Armenia, Nara Melkonyan, engaged in a conversation about how Project AGAPE is assisting thousands of Syrian refugees who are fleeing war and strife to Armenia. Project Agape has been able to provide food, clothing, and shelter. Project Agape is fully supported by the North Carolina Conference and the Western North Carolina Conference.

The guest preacher for the evening was Bishop Gregory V. Palmer of the Ohio West Episcopal Area, who spoke powerfully about how relevant the writings of Paul and his letters to New Testament churches are to the struggles within the Church today. These texts speak so eloquently about how the people of God are to live together despite controversy and disagreements.

Grounding his message in the text, “What do you have that you have not received?” (1 Corinthians 4:7), Palmer reminded worshipers that “there is no such thing as a “self made person. Even the breath we breathe is God’s.” What do we have that we have not received?

The wreckage of history demonstrates that humans cannot fix this world. Humans take the gifts of God and mold them into items for war and conflict. Through grace and mercy, God narrated a different story; through God’s Son, Jesus Christ, comes hope, love and peace. “God, in Christ, saw fit that our past didn’t need to define our future.”

It is vital to remember that Paul was writing to “church people” who were arguing about “apostleship” and their giftedness; they were clamoring for recognition and authority rather than serving selflessly. They had forgotten that all they had was a gift from God. Could this very well describe churches today, expecting to be rewarded for every action; expecting “credit” for all actions and offerings; expecting a certificate for every little accomplishment?

“Don’t get too enamored with your goodness. The playing field is level at the foot of the cross. The goody-two-shoes have got to stand with the reprobate.”

Whether laity or clergy, whether a big church or small – God has already given everything needed to take the next step in obedience and faith. Churches need fewer certificates and more missionaries; fewer committee members and more apostles.

“If we are going to be generous people . . . we must begin to see everything as a gift. We don’t have a money deficit. We’ve got a gratitude deficit. What do we have that we have not received?”

Fuquay Varina Praise Band
youth dancing Thursday night

Filed Under: General Tagged With: Annual Conference 2016, Bishop Gregory Palmer, Fuquay-Varina Praise Team, North Carolina Conference

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