Christian Educators Fellowship retreat to feature Delia Halverson
Delia Halverson, author, consultant, and retreat leader in Christian Education for all ages, will lead the retreat, “Re-Charging for Discipling Mission: Fuel and Tools for Christian Educators.” The retreat, sponsored by the NC Christian Educators Fellowship, will be held at Camp Agape (outside Fuquay-Varina) on March 21-22. see flyer
Bulletin inserts discussing the Social Principles now available
Church bulletin inserts featuring specific Social Principles of The United Methodist Church are available on the General Board of Church and Society website. The inserts are 11×8.5 inches and two-sided. The second side includes scriptures, prayers, readings, action suggestions and a snippet about United Methodist activity related to the Social Principles. read more
Methodist Home for Children Sunday is February 13
Once a year, congregations in the NC Conference are urged to receive an offering for the children and families served by Methodist Home for Children (MHC). This offering supports the work that touches more than 1400 young people and families each year with services such as foster care and adoption, family counseling, residential care and other programs. A critical source of support for this work is the annual MHC Sunday offering, taken in United Methodist churches on Feb. 13. Special envelopes and bulletin inserts are distributed by the district UMW.Churches needing MHC Sunday envelopes or wanting to schedule an MHC speaker for a “mission moment” or other presentation, should contact Donna Tate at dtate@mhfc.org or call her direct line 919-754-3621.
February is Black History Month
The Conference Media Center and the General Board of Discipleship are wonderful sources for materials available for planning worship or small group studies during Black History Month. For worship resources, go to Genl Bd of Discipleship. For study materials, go to Media Center.
Support UM Camps on February 27
Every day, NC Conference UM Camps – Chestnut Ridge, Don Lee and Rockfish – are transforming lives with the love of God. At camp, people of all ages discover new friends, accomplish new goals, grow in Christ, and experience the wonder that nature offers. read more
Denomination to debut new worship and song book
The first song collection and worship guide published by The United Methodist Church in more than a decade will be introduced March 1-3 at the ReThink Worship and Song event in Nashville, TN. Worship & Song contains 190 hymns and worship songs with new worship planning resources in a collection designed to supplement The United Methodist Hymnal and other songbooks. To learn more about the March 1-3 event introducing Worship & Song, go to Event. To read more about the new book, go to New Worship & Song.
2011 Clergy Partners Day Apart to be March 19
Come be a part of a network of support and encouragement at the Clergy Partners Day Apart, Saturday, March 19, at St Luke UMC in Sanford. Joyce Gwinn will be the featured speaker. Come and be blessed by a dedicated clergy partner and wife of Bishop Al Gwinn. Click Day Apart for more information and registration form.
Caring for Creation conference to discuss protecting the Earth
Life in the world today is challenged by how we care for the gift of Earth given to us by God. The Christian faith challenges us to be caretakers of Earth. Caring for Creation helps members of faith communities learn how to care for the Earth which is often taken for granted. The Caring for Creation experience provides the Biblical and theological support for developing opportunities for faith communities to be caretakers of this planet. read more
Free Webinars on Faith and Domestic Violence
In response to requests for training and more information on what churches and church leaders can do to support persons affected by domestic violence, United Methodist Women is offering a series of webinars on Wednesdays from February 16 to March 2. Participation is free. read more
Faith Connections on Mental Illness sponsoring one-day conference
Faith Connections on Mental Illness will be sponsoring a one-day conference, “Mental Illness as a Spiritual Journey: Creating Caring Communities,” with the Rev. Susan Gregg-Schroeder on Friday, April 1 at St. Thomas More in Chapel Hill. The conference is designed for people of faith in an effort to help them become stewards of compassion among the mentally ill and their families. read more
Change the World resources available to energize congregations
May 14-15 promises to be a great connectional Change the World weekend with congregations around the world putting faith into action outside sanctuary walls. For free Change the World fliers and web graphics, go to Rethinkchurch. There, participants can register their event and begin to receive communications from UMCom. They will also be counted in the global stats and appear on the map being generated for Rethinkchurch.org. Articles suitable for reproducing in church newsletters or on websites will be available as well. A four-week sermon and study series will be released by Rethink Church in mid-March. This free resource for adults, youth/young adults and children will offer a companion multimedia bundle for $25. Go to Change the World for all the information and downloads.