Announcements

Fayetteville JFON is now the NC Immigration Law & Justice Center

Announcements Published on
March 29, 2023

The North Carolina Immigration Law & Justice Center (ILJC), part of the Immigration Law & Justice Network (ILJN), provides low-income immigrants, refugees and asylum-seekers with affordable, high-quality immigration legal services.

We also provide information to help the public understand the complicated U.S. immigration system and educate policy makers on how immigration policy impacts our immigrant neighbors.

When a stranger sojourns with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong. The stranger who sojourns with you shall be to you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself; for you were strangers in the land of Egypt; I am the Lord your God. Leviticus 19: 33-34

The NCCUMC is a proud sponsor of this important ministry!

Find out more about our work and about how to support or volunteer by visiting our website:

https://ncimmigrationcenter.org/

Breaking the Silence-Remembering an iconic speech by Rev. Dr. M.L. King, Jr.

Announcements Published on
March 29, 2023

The NCCUMC is committed to becoming an anti-racist Conference. Jesus humbly rode into Jerusalem in opposition to the occupying forces of Rome and gave up his life for all to know the salvific power of love. What does it look like to “renounce the spiritual forces of wickedness”, and to “accept the freedom and power God gives you to resist evil, injustice and oppression in whatever forms they present themselves”?
Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_J7h3PO6hTcaWsM1zDfhgkQ

On the anniversary of his historic Riverside Church speech in 1967…
Join us for a conversation on Dr. King’s call for a radical revolution in values against racism, militarism and materialism.
What does this revolution look like today?
Tues. April 4, 2023, 7pm ET

Day 31 – Clay Parker

Announcements Published on
March 29, 2023

Let mutual affection continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that, some have entertained angels without knowing it. Hebrews 13:1-2

I read an article a few months ago by a pastor I had the opportunity to sit with on a retreat while I was in Seminary. In this article, the pastor in question said that when we say that we are all children of God and thus worthy of God’s love, we are mistaken because until a person makes a profession of faith or “accepts” Jesus into their hearts, they aren’t truly a child of God. So, using this pastor’s rationale, a person would need to go up to someone and ask them if they have a relationship with Jesus Christ before they are willing to love them and welcome them as a child of God.

I’m sorry, but I believe that’s wrong. The writer of Hebrews tells us plainly that we are not to neglect sharing acts of mercy and kindness because if we do, we may miss out on an opportunity to interact with angels. Plainer still is the directive from Christ that we find in John’s gospel. “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this, everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35 NRSVUE) This can prove difficult for us, though. Loving as Jesus loves means going to the margins where the people Jesus ministered to are found. Loving as Jesus loves means being in a relationship with folks you may have been told aren’t actually a child of God.

The season of Lent allows us to repent of the notion that a particular person is more worthy of God’s love than another. Lent invites us to remember the graceful hospitality that Jesus shared with us and invites us to share that same graceful hospitality with others. We are all children of God. Go and live, go and love, confident in that perfect truth.

Rev. Clay Parker serves as the pastor of Princeton UMC in Princeton, NC, and as a chaplain with The UM Collective of the NC Conference.

Lay Equalization Plan Nominations

Announcements Published on
March 28, 2023

In 2021, our Annual Conference adopted a Lay Equalization Plan that helps guide the nomination and selection process for At-Large Lay Members for the NC Annual Conference. The purpose of this plan is to ensure an equal number of clergy (active & retired) and Lay Members participate in our NC Annual Conference. This plan calls for the District Superintendent, in partnership with the District Lay Leader(s), to nominate professing members from within their district as At-Large Members for participation in the NC Annual Conference meeting.

Our District Superintendents and District Lay Leader(s) started this work on March 1, 2023, and will continue throughout the month, with nominations closing on April 7. This plan is intended to bring a diversity of laity to the decision-making process. The election of At-Large Members aims to include youth, young adults, people of color, and the marginalized.

From now until April 7, 2023, our conference Board of Laity are actively receiving Lay Equalization Plan nominations. Nominations may come from pastors, congregational lay leadership, or self-nomination. You may also submit the nomination yourself if you have spoken with someone who would like to be considered.

Please share the nomination form with anyone who you believe might be interested in serving. We are asking both Pastors and Laity to help us seek, encourage, and ultimately send lay members of every age, gender, and color as we work together for our conference and the glory of our Savior.

Please note that elected lay members will be responsible for their own travel arrangements and accommodations. There is no funding available from the district or conference for travel, meals, or accommodations. College Hill Suites at East Carolina University provides affordable lodging for Lay members to Annual Conference. Visit the Annual Conference 2023 page for more information on housing.

Our deadline for nominations has been extended to April 7. You can submit more than one nomination. Remember, this is a nomination in addition to the name(s) you have already elected at your annual Charge Conference. All nominations will be reviewed by our conference Board of Laity, and all who have been nominated will be notified by April 17, 2023, as to their status – either elected or alternate.

We are seeking committed and willing hearts to serve as At-Large Members to Annual Conference. Thank you in advance for helping us to ensure that our decision-making members are as creative and diverse as the God who created us all!

John Hall, NC Conference Lay Leader

Day 30 – Donna Banks

Announcements Published on
March 28, 2023

He said to them, “For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.” Matthew 17:20

The story of Epworth United Methodist Church might be compared to the story of the mustard seed. It was a seed planted and germinated, which grew into the greatest of shrubs. After the Annual meeting of the Durham Methodist Society on May 18, 1951, plans were made to organize Epworth Methodist Church. At that time church membership was 18 people worshiping at Hope Valley Elementary School. In 1952, the church was officially chartered. Between 1951-1954 the congregation grew to 61 people, and plans were made to launch a building program. Many Methodists in Durham contributed to the cost of the lot and the building.

In May 2014, Epworth made the decision to become a Reconciling Congregation. This formal acknowledgment made to our local community and the world recognized our commitment to welcome our LGBTQ+ brothers and sisters in all areas of our ministry.

In the last several years, Epworth has organized a “Journeying Towards Justice” Ministry, our anti-racism team, which looks to educate, engage, and empower our congregation and community to build the Beloved Community. This summer, in conjunction with the Mt. Level Partnership, Epworth will host the Marian Wright Edelman Children’s Defense Fund “Freedom School.” The goal of Freedom Schools is to provide academically and culturally enriching experiences for children whose lives have been compromised by poverty and, most recently, by the pandemic.

Celebrating our 70th Anniversary in 2022, we give thanks for those early disciples who welcomed people into communion with Jesus Christ. As we move into the next decade, may we continue to have the courage to invite ALL people to experience God’s love through Jesus Christ.

Gracious God, only you have the ability to take the smallest degree of faith, like the tiny size of a mustard seed, and grow it into a greater fullness that would accomplish greater things and miraculous wonders through our ever-growing faith. We give our thanks and praise to God for the past, the present, and the future that lies ahead. In the name of Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.

Rev. Donna Banks serves as the pastor of Epworth UMC in Durham, NC.

Youth Nominations Still Needed for Denman Award

Announcements Published on
March 27, 2023

Attention youth, parents, youth leaders, and pastors! We still need nominations for youth for the 2023 Denman Evangelism Awards. The annual award, which also includes categories for clergy and laity, recognizes and honors persons in their communities who embody the “gift of reaching out to others and introducing or helping bring them into a life-giving relationship with Christ.”

Here’s a video with last year’s youth winner, Jacey Hilburn:

The deadline for nominations is Thursday, March 30. Nominate a deserving youth in your church today!

2023 Denman Evangelism Awards

Announcements

We also provide information to help the public understand the complicated U.S. immigration system and educate policy makers on how immigration policy impacts our immigrant neighbors.

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