Three districts have announced upcoming training opportunities. Corridor, Fairway, and Sound districts have scheduled classes posted with pre-registration required. Dates and links for more information and registration are here.
Announcements
Community Connectivity Mini-Grants
Public school educators have done a wonderful job of constantly adjusting to provide high-quality instruction to all children throughout the pandemic. As churches continue to seek creative ways to support our local public school children and help to address the learning gap exacerbated by online and hybrid in-person/online learning, the NCCUMC Congregations for Children (C4C) Committee is pleased to announce a “Community Connectivity Mini-Grant” opportunity for local churches.
We are offering grants to help fund initiatives seeking to enhance weekday after-school hours programming for our communities and/or resources needed for academic success for the children in our communities. Similar to last year’s grant opportunities, we particularly encourage projects that directly address the educational needs of our low-income children who are struggling to avoid falling behind their more affluent peers. This might take the form of boosting churches’ internet access for children with limited home access; purchasing devices (Chromebooks, iPads, laptops, etc.) for use in churches’ after-school tutoring programs, providing books for children with limited means, etc. Below you will find a link to the application form. The deadline for applying is September 30, 2021, but why wait? Start planning and apply today!
Grace That Is Always Sufficient
In Bishop Fairley’s introductory message as our episcopal leader, he reminds us that God will provide a grace that is always sufficient to complete God’s good work in, among, and through us.
“I thank my God every time I remember you, constantly praying with joy in every one of my prayers for all of you, because of your sharing in the Gospel from the first day until now. I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ.” -Philippians 1:3-6
This is what we believe as my wife, Dawn, and I begin our life in this liminal season with the people called United Methodist in North Carolina. We count it a privilege and an honor to serve alongside you as fellow laborers with God because we know that God has this divine habit of using ordinary people to do extraordinary things. God has done it over and over again among the people of God who are rooted and grounded in Jesus Christ.
Friends, there is something in my spirit that tells me that God is still doing acts of mercy, love, justice, and peace among God’s people here in North Carolina even in this liminal season of uncertainty, anxiety and, yes, polarization. Despite all of this, it is our prayer and deep confidence that the one who began a good work among you will indeed bring it to completion. Yes, but how? “Not by might, not by power, but by my Spirit says the Lord of host.” Zechariah 4:6
Sisters and brothers in Christ, the how has, is, and will always be rooted in our life together with Christ. In the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, there is saving grace enough for this journey. Holy Spirit grace upon grace that empowers, encourages, and equips us for every good and perfect work that comes from above.
Let us continue to seek peace with everyone, letting our love be mutual, allowing our acts of social justice to flow from the deep wells of spiritual holiness. If there is anything I’ve learned from being nurtured by the people of NC, it is that there is grace enough for this journey. I’ve had to call on that grace many times and God in Jesus Christ hasn’t failed me yet. I don’t always know the when and the how, but somehow God opens a door and the works of salvation, redemption, reconciliation, mercy, love, and peace continue. Dawn and I are simply here to walk and work alongside you in the work God has already begun. We are excited to see the possibilities and to live the promise.
Dawn and I covet your prayers in this season of our lives together with you in Christ. And so peace my brothers and sisters as we share in this journey together with a grace that will always be sufficient for all that we might ever do.
Creation Care: A Lived Out Theology
Many Christians struggle to connect what they hear in church on Sunday morning to what they do during the week. Some of the lessons taught about God and Jesus seem so high minded as to be inapplicable in our day-to-day lives.
That’s one of the things I love about creation care: it’s a practical theology.
When we increase our understanding of God as our Creator and our place amongst creation, we see the connections that we have with our neighbors, human and non-human alike. We see how our actions impact the lives of others who share this creation with us, and we learn how to better love God and neighbor by caring for what God has entrusted into our hands.
My own life has been changed as I’ve deepened my understanding of God through the medium of creation. I’m constantly challenged to consider actions I perform regularly- how I grocery shop, the setting of my thermostat, what goes into my trashcan- in light of how it effects my neighbors.
We hope you will join us all September long as we celebrate Season of Creation 2021 and deepen your own connection with God through creation.
We have ample opportunities for you to grow in your knowledge of this lived out theology, especially our webinar series.
And if you missed the opening worship service last week, you can watch it here.
Upcoming Webinars
Coal Ash, BIPOC Farming, and Everything In Between: An Environmental Justice Panel
September 7, 7:00
Join George C. Jones, Jr. (Executive Director of Piedmont Business Capital, co-owner of Inheritage Farms), Phoebe Gooding (Toxic Free NC), Bobby Jones, and Cooper Sykes (NCCUMC) in a discussion about how communities, particularly BIPOC communities, are impacted by environmental degradation, and the work being done to combat these problems.
Creation Care, Spirituality, and the Healing of Trauma
September 9, 7:00
Rev. Dr. Elaine Heath will be sharing with us about the spirituality of creation care, and particularly its gifts for healing in our lives.
Eating Together Faithfully
September 14, 7:00
This webinar, led by Jimmy McKinnell of Life Around the Table, will introduce participants to Eating Together Faithfully, a framework for conversation designed to walk church communities through various food and faith topics. The framework is aimed at motivating churches to participate in food justice both on the individual level and as communities of faith.
Faith, Science and Ministry
September 16, 7:00
Jennifer Shecki-Shields of Discovery and Faith shares: “Today it is inevitable that developments in science will meet the practice of Christian faith if that faith is to have any cultural impact or relevance. Unfortunately, the church is not adequately meeting the challenges presented by the intersection of faith and science. The quality of the relationship between science and Christian faith is not just a matter of discipleship, but touches on many areas of outreach ministry and societal concern, including creation care. Having a role to play in all of these areas will require us to be scientifically informed and engaged so that we can proclaim Gospel hope to a world in need.” You can learn more about Jennifer’s ministry at Discovery and Faith here.
ReGenesis2.15: Tools for Regenerating the Soil and the Soul of Your Community
September 28, 7:00
Join Keith Sexton and Jacob Dye as we present the Creation Care team’s regenerative agriculture toolbox. Whether you’ve never heard of regenerative agriculture or you’re already engaged in the work, the toolbox will help you take the next step in restoring our planet’s health.
Living as Resident Aliens in God’s Land
September 30, 7:00
Dr. Ellen Davis (Duke Divinity School) and Rev. Jarrod S. Davis guide a study on Leviticus 25, seeking to understand the importance of Sabbath and Jubilee for the land and the community alike. How have our understandings of land ownership, indebtedness, and slavery shaped our modern world?
Climate Change: Where Religion and Science Meet
October 5, 7:00
Climate change is a religious issue as well as a scientific one because some of its effects, for which we bear responsibility, are contrary to religious teachings. The presentation will review three of those effects relevant to biblical teachings, clarify the severity of the issue, and identify actions for both congregations and congregants to mitigate climate change.
Faith in the City Event
Faith in the City is hosting an event on September 7, 2021, from 12 pm – 1 pm. Kris Nordstrom, Senior Policy Analyst at the North Carolina Justice Center, will discuss the Leandro court case that mandates equitable school funding across the state.
The event will take place in the Fellowship Hall (Building B) at Knollwood Baptist Church, 330 Knollwood St., Winston-Salem, NC. Social distancing and mask guidelines will be posted on the door. The session will also be live-streamed on the Faith in the City KBC Facebook group page.
For more information, email faithinthecitykbc@gmail.com.
ERTs Serving in Western NC Conference
The Western NC Conference of The UMC invited NC Conference ERTs to help respond to flooding from Tropical Storm Fred. Teams will muck out homes and remove debris. Currently, five teams from our Conference have signed up to volunteer.
Early Response Teams work for up to three days. Housing will be provided, but teams will need to bring sleeping bags or air mattresses. If your Early Response Team would like to volunteer in the Western NC Conference, please contact 888-440-9167 or email disaster@nccumc.org.
Give to Tropical Storm Fred Relief in the Western NC Conference:
If you prefer to pay by check, you make your check payable to WNCC Treasurer, note Tropical Storm Fred in the memo line, and mail to:
Attn: Carol Bateman
Western North Carolina Conference
P.O. Box 2757
Huntersville, NC 28070-2757