We will have two wonderful evening programs at this Annual Conference 2017 – a children’s musical presented by Centenary UMC: New Bern on Friday evening and a dramatization from the book by Tim Tyson, Blood Done Sign My Name, on Saturday evening.
The North Carolina United Methodist family will gather on Friday and Saturday evenings during the Annual Conference session and our hope is that many from across the annual conference will come and be a part of this time together. We’ll celebrate the love of God for us and the mission to which we are called.
On Friday evening, the children of Centenary United Methodist Church in New Bern will present a wonderful, joyful musical called “What’s Up Zak?” It’s the story of Zacchaeus and Bartimaeus as told in the Gospel of Luke. Jesus welcomed Zacchaeus and Bartimaeus into the arms of God just as they are and God welcomes us this same way. Come and join in the fun and the joy on Friday night.
Then on Saturday night, Mike Wiley, a creative and wonderful playwright, poet, and dramatist will present “Blood Done Sign My Name.” Blood Done Sign My Name is a play based on the book of the same name by Tim Tyson, the son of Vernon Tyson, a clergy member of the North Carolina Annual Conference. The play will tell the story of the murder of Henry Marrow in Oxford in 1970. At that time, Tim was 10 years old and Vernon was the pastor of Oxford United Methodist Church. The play will help us remember the dynamics of racial tension and the challenge of being faithful witnesses these years ago. This play is amazingly contemporary as we continue to face the challenge and the joy of following Christ faithfully in the world.
It will be a wonderful time together. I hope to see you there.