Just as the Magi came and offered gifts to the Christ child, we offer gifts in this season to one another and to our friends and partners around the world.
“Arise and shine for your light has come and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.” May each of you have a glorious celebration of the Epiphany, the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ.
A star was bright in the sky and it beckoned Magi, wise men, astrologers, to follow it until it stopped over the place where the child Jesus was. They entered the house and they knelt and offered lavish gifts, gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.
We celebrate your generosity, in partnership with all United Methodist people. As a result of past generosity, the Council on Finance and Administration, after praying and thinking and talking together, have designated full apportionment payment to the general church and designated the same amount to be set aside to help local churches across our Annual Conference who are impacted by the continuing COVID pandemic. If your church is in need of funds to continue your ministry and strengthen vitality, please, please, apply for some of these funds.
We, in the North Carolina Annual Conference, have experienced great generosity and now we’re offering great generosity, to global United Methodism as well as to local churches across the expanse of our Annual Conference. Just as the Magi came and offered gifts to the Christ child, we offer gifts in this season to one another and to our friends and partners around the world. As we enter into this new year together, let us all do as John Wesley advised long ago, “Earn all you can. Save all you can and give all you can.”
Through our generosity, The United Methodist Church is strengthened in every place.
Thank you for your partnership, your trust in God, and your confidence in the abundance and sufficiency of God in all things.