Workshop on the Holy Sacraments to be held at Lake Junaluska
Dr. Gayle Felton will lead the workshop, “Sacraments, the Means of Grace” to be held at Lake Junaluska July 24-26. This event, designed for clergy and laity, will span the theological and practical considerations of the sacraments from the United Methodist perspective. For more information, go to Baptism and Eucharist.
Finding Jesus on Facebook
The Conference Safe Sanctuaries Committee is sponsoring a series of workshops for adults in ministry among children and youth entitled “Finding Jesus on Facebook.” The workshop will address issues of cybersafety as well as ministry among the Internet generation. Participants will receive materials to use in working with other leaders and parents in their local churches. There is no cost to attend the workshop although anyone planning to attend should notify Robin Harry about the attendance date and location. The workshop will be held on Saturday mornings from 10 a.m. to 12 noon as follows: Oct. 17 at Jarvis Memorial UMC in Greenville; Nov. 7 at Haymount UMC in Fayetteville; and Nov. 21 at Soapstone UMC in Raleigh. More information about the workshop and how to register plans to attend can be found at www.nccumc.org/children/safe-sanctuaries/.
Convocation on the Black Church to be held in September
“Can These Dry Bones Live?” a Convocation on the Black Church will be held Sept. 18-19 at Hay Street UMC in Fayetteville. Sponsored by the conference Committee on Strengthening the Black Church, the event will include sessions about Risk-Taking Mission through Evangelism and Outreach and Revitalizing the Church. For more information and to access a registration form, go to: https://nccumc.org/multicultural/files/bc09.pdf.
Award of Excellence in Youth Ministry
The Award of Excellence in Youth Ministry is presented to a local church youth group each year at Pilgrimage. The application deadline is Aug. 31. Applications are available at www.nccumc.org/youth/. The Conference Council on Youth Ministries will make the selection of the recipient at their September meeting. The award will be presented during the Saturday, Nov. 14, morning session at Pilgrimage at the Crown Coliseum in Fayetteville.
Camp Chestnut Ridge to celebrate 50th anniversary
Please take note of the historic 50th Anniversary for Chestnut Ridge Camp and Retreat Center. The celebration is set for Saturday, July 25, 3 – 6 p.m., with lots of fun activities, music, swimming, canoeing, and more. Bishop Gwinn will be present for the festivities. Share the information with your congregation and join the celebration. If you have questions, call Dail Ballard at 910-352-8081 or email dail@ncumcamps.org.
Training session for certification in Older Adult ministry to be at Lake Junaluska
Dr. Paul Chilcote will lead a certificate course for Older Adult Ministries Aug. 5-9 at Lake Junaluska. The 2009 course, “United Methodist Studies” will include an overview of the history, doctrine, and polity of The United Methodist Church. The program is part of the Norman T. Allers Academy for Older Adult Ministries. The Academy exists to provide training, mentoring, and confirmation for the validity of ministry to, for, by, and with older adults with a primary objective of leading to certification in Older Adult Ministry. For registration information, go to http://www.lakejunaluska.com/Allers.aspx.
Pilgrimage Leadership
Those youth and youth groups willing to offer leadership at Pilgrimage, Nov. 13-15, at the Crown Coliseum in Fayetteville must do so by Aug. 31. The opportunities (and how to sign up) are as follows: 1) House Band – youth must submit an application available upon request from Sue Ellen Nicholson and must attend the audition; 2) Testimonies – youth must submit their testimony in writing to Sue Ellen Nicholson or Youth Ministry, PO Box 10955, Raleigh, NC 27605 with a recommendation from their pastor or adult youth leader as well as contact information for that adult; 3) Dance, drama, etc. – youth groups offering an act of worship such as dance, drama, etc. must submit a description of the act of worship and the leader contact information; 4) DVD’s – youth groups wishing to offer a DVD from their group must mail it to Youth Ministry, PO Box 10955, Raleigh, NC 27605. The DVD must meet the following criteria: involve the whole group, relate to the theme “Peace Like a River,” and offer good audio and visual quality (in other words clarity in picture and verbally understandable). Note: DVD’s of youth group mission trips will not be accepted. Pilgrimage brochures will be mailed out for the second time in early August. The brochure and poster are available for download at www.nccumc.org/youth/events/.