March 12, 2023 All day
Special Sundays are designated Sundays throughout the year that provide opportunities for giving. These special offerings are earmarked and support designated ministries.
This Special Sunday supports the Girl Scouts.
Special Sundays are designated Sundays throughout the year that provide opportunities for giving. These special offerings are earmarked and support designated ministries.
This Special Sunday supports the Girl Scouts.
The #BeUMC campaign reminds us of who we are at our best — the spirit-filled, resilient, connected, missional, faithful, diverse, deeply rooted, committed, disciple-making, Jesus-seeking, generous, justice-seeking, world-changing people of God called The United Methodist Church.
We offer our gifts and resources to serve those in need, both near and far. United Methodists cultivate a generosity of spirit, time, and resources. During Advent, we respond to God’s most generous gift of all, Jesus.
The NC Conference Media Center offers resources on generosity for small groups, church leaders, and children – for the Advent season and throughout the year.
Saving Grace: A Guide to Financial Well-Being (DVD Study) from Abingdon Press. This six-part study provides the text and tools you need to address the topics of saving, earning, giving, spending, and debt, along with helpful strategies for achieving a sustainable financial life.
Earn. Save. Give. Wesley’s Simple Rules for Money (DVD Study) by James A. Harnish. To John Wesley, the task was simple: earn all you can, save all you can, give all you can. In this study, pastor and author James A. Harnish presents Wesley’s concepts and beliefs in plain, useful language suitable for groups to discuss and act upon.
The Generosity Challenge: 28 Days of Gratitude, Prayer, and Faith (DVD Study) by Scott McKenzie and Kristine Miller. After 28 days, members of this group study are encouraged to embrace a life-giving journey toward generosity and provided a road map on how to get there.
Enough: Discovering Joy Through Simplicity and Generosity (DVD Study) by Adam Hamilton. Enough is an invitation to rediscover the Bible’s wisdom on prudent financial practices. Find the keys to experiencing contentment, overcoming fear, and discovering joy through simplicity and generosity.
Defying Gravity: Break Free from the Culture of More (DVD Study) by Tom Berlin. In this 4-week small group study, pastor and author Tom Berlin explores what is required to sustain a vibrant life, what we need versus what we want, and what we can do to avoid being pulled into the orbit of materialism.
FastPrayGive Small Group Study: Ending Hunger By The Means of Grace by Andy Morris. The World Methodist Council passed a resolution in 2011 calling the people known as Methodist to Fast one meal per week, Pray during that time for world hunger, and Give to those in need. This became a global initiative of the World Fellowship of Methodist and Uniting Church Men and as a result, launched FastPrayGive.org. This small group study is a resource to aid you in joining this grassroots discipleship movement.
Generosity, Stewardship, and Abundance: A Transformational Guide to Church Finance by Lovett H. Weems Jr. and Ann A. Michel. This book provides practical advice to pastors and church leaders tasked with funding ministry and inspiring others toward responsible stewardship and greater generosity.
Growing Generous Souls: Becoming Grace-Filled Stewards by Betsy Schwarzentraub. This book offers reflection questions and resources to help communities move toward becoming more fully grace-filled stewards of all that God has provided.
Generosity Rising: Lead a Stewardship Revolution in Your Church by Scott McKenzie. In this book, you’ll get practical guidelines for training a dedicated team of “generosity revolutionaries” who embrace, live, and lead others on a journey of gratitude, prayer, and faith.
The Gratitude Path: Leading Your Church to Generosity by Kent Millard. This biblically based, no-nonsense resource will enable you to help people count their blessings and give to God out of gratitude.
Disciples Living Generously by Junius B. Dotson. This booklet aims to give leaders a foundation to see the task of growing generosity as a critical ingredient in our mission of making faithful disciples that will transform the world.
Extravagant Generosity: The Heart of Giving (Kit) by Michael Reeves & Jennifer Tyler. Many programs talk about the role of giving in the spiritual life, but they fail to involve church members thinking and praying about their financial discipleship on a day-to-day basis.
A Different Kind of Christmas: Living and Giving Like Jesus (DVD Study) by Mike Slaughter. This five-week study helps participants see the traps and discontentment of consumerism and the call of God to live generously to fulfill God’s mission in the world.
All I Want for Christmas: Opening the Gifts of God’s Grace by (DVD Study) James W. Moore. This five-week Advent study helps us think about what we really want for Christmas by reminding us of the amazing, life-changing gifts Christmas has in store for us.
Triptych 2022: Daily Advent Scripture, Reflection, and Prayer (including Christmas and Epiphany) by Steve Hickle and Andy Morris. Together, we are called to deepen our discipleship, profoundly involving God in our inner and outer lives, what John Wesley called “piety” and “mercy.” We invite you to connect with our core ministry, FastPrayGive.org, where you may become part of a year-round weekly discipline and join a growing movement to end hunger by grace.
7 Days of Christmas: A Season of Generosity by Jen Hatmaker. Best-selling author Jen Hatmaker shows how you can turn seven key areas of consumption—food, clothes, spending, media, possessions, waste, and stress—into thoughtful and practical generosity that captures the true spirit of Christmas.
Imagining a New World: An Advent Devotional by Terri Hord Owens. The author delves into Advent lectionary texts to reflect on God’s vision for the world and how we might find the courage to imagine, the permission to change, and the freedom to fear no more.
Saint Nicholas: How the Christian Saint Became Santa Claus by Steve Skelton. In five short chapters, Stephen Skelton tells the story of the real Saint Nicholas, who inspired the character of Santa Claus, and how he lived his life as a true servant of Christ.
What About Our Money? A Faith Response by Susan K. Taylor. This study explores our own relationship with money, the money choices available to us, and how we individually and collectively respond to economic inequalities in light of our faith. The companion studies listed below make this curriculum available for all ages.
Is It Just Money? Our Dollars, God’s Economy: A Youth Study by Anna Burkett and Tom Burkett. This study is designed to engage youth in an exploration of money as it relates to faith and justice. Help youth deepen their understanding of the complex questions that surround making, having, giving, and using money.
Money Matters: A Study for Children by Denise Snyder. This study endeavors to teach children about the concept of money, the importance of generosity, and how God intends for us to use money as an expression of love for others.
Let the Children Give: Time, Talents, Love and Money by Delia Halverson. This book is designed to be used to supplement an ongoing ministry with children. It will help to teach them how to use their gifts, talents, and the earth’s resources in a way to show their love for God.
Elizabeth & Stella Meet ZOE by Melissa Harrell. Elizabeth and Stella are introduced to a special ministry called ZOE. Each girl, in her own way, is impacted by this empowerment movement that helps orphans learn how to take care of themselves. This inspiring story will introduce readers to generosity in a way they can understand and champion them to take action in their own world.
The Suitcase: A Story About Giving by Jane G. Meyer. This book celebrates a young child’s enthusiasm to put into practice the words of Christ: to feed and clothe the poor; help the needy; and love one’s neighbor.
Cross and Key Prison Ministries wants to help every congregation in the North Carolina Conference respond to Christ’s call to minister to those in prison. Answering that call can take many different forms since one size does not fit all when it comes to prison ministry. Some churches will want to engage in hands-on ministry in the prisons, jails, and youth correctional centers; others may desire to be prayer partners or pen pals with inmates; others will feel called to engage in advocacy for reform; still others may want to provide support to halfway houses, community-funded chaplains and other community efforts. There are many ways to respond. The important thing is to respond.
To help churches find their point of ministry, Cross and Key Prison Ministries has developed a new toolkit for local churches. This will be available as a download from their website this fall. The toolkit will provide foundations for prison ministry and practical ways to get involved. Reach out to Cross and Key Prison Ministries for ways to become involved.
On August 28, a special offering will be received for Cross and Key Prison Ministries in the local churches. Bishop Fairley has shared his thoughts about Cross and Key Prison Ministries in the attached letter for you to share. Bulletin inserts and a promotional video are available on the Cross and Key Prison Ministries’ website.
Thank you for your support!
Thank you to everyone who has donated to the special offerings. Online giving will be available at nccumc.org/giving/ac2022 until the end of June. You may also send checks to NC Conference – Raleigh Area, P.O. Box 890202, Charlotte, NC 28289-0202 with the selected offering noted on the Memo line.
An offering for Ukraine Relief was received during Opening Worship on Wednesday. The updated offering total is $20,097. Your generosity supports Advance #982450 International Disaster Response & Recovery, United Methodist Committee on Relief’s regional humanitarian response.
This offering was received during Celebrate the Connection on Friday to support the Conferences and local churches of Tennessee and Kentucky as they provide direct services of sheltering, feeding, cleaning, and supporting volunteer teams. The total raised was $8,227.
This offering was received during the Celebration of Laity Ministries on Friday afternoon. Gifts will be invested in long-term, life-altering ministries within the geographical bounds of the NC Conference that impact the lives of innumerable people in the name of Jesus. The total raised was $8,978.
Your generosity to all of these special offerings will make a tangible difference. Thank you!
Cans of donated food help those who are food insecure in our communities. USDA statistics show that 20-25% of people in our Conference Area are food insecure depending on the county in which they live. Food insecurity is a lack of consistent access to enough food for every person in a household to live an active, healthy life.
To raise awareness of food insecurity in our part of North Carolina, we will have four models of iconic Eastern NC structures built out of cans of food located at the Greenville Convention Center during AC 2022.
These five thousand plus cans of food were procured at a discounted price by several major groceries in our state and will be given to the major Food Banks in Eastern North Carolina at the end of AC 2022. The Mission Team is coordinating this project and invites lay members and clergy members of AC 2022 to bring their own donations of cans to add to the total of cans donated to the Food Banks. There will be large bins scattered around the Convention Center for collection
Contact Rev. Bill Haddock if you have questions or need additional information. (910) 262-3831 or revbillh@nccumc.org
As we continue planning Annual Conference 2022, make sure to stay up-to-date with the latest details. Today, learn about the Special Offerings, an opportunity to share your ministry on our photo wall, and how you can volunteer to be an usher or offering steward.
At Annual Conference 2022, you will have the opportunity to give three Special Offerings: Ukraine Relief, Tornado Relief, and The Gary Wayne Locklear Mission Endowment.
Received during Opening Worship on Wednesday at 1:30 pm. These funds will support Advance #982450 International Disaster Response and Recovery, United Methodist Committee on Relief’s (UMCOR) humanitarian response in the region.
Received during Celebrate the Connection on Friday at 10 am. Gifts will support their Conferences and local churches to provide direct services of sheltering, feeding, cleaning, supporting volunteer teams, providing tools and materials, and meeting other developing needs.
Received during the Celebration of Laity Ministries on Friday at 2 pm. Invest in long-term, life-altering ministries within the geographical bounds of the NC Conference that impact the lives of innumerable people in the name of Jesus.
Highlight Your Ministry at Annual Conference
This year at Annual Conference, we would like to highlight how churches in the NC Conference are practicing acts of graceful justice. We are asking churches to email a photo with a description of your church practicing an act of graceful justice. The 8 x 10 photos will be displayed at Annual Conference. There is space for approximately 120 photos so please email your photo as soon as possible to Rev. Dr. Donna Thompson, Artist in Residence for the NC Conference, at dthompson@nccumc.org. The deadline for submitting photos is June 6, 2022.
We need volunteers to help ensure the success of our Conference. Thanks to all who have signed up already. For those who have not signed up, view the available opportunities and sign up today. Please call Caroline Jackson at 910-890-6687 if you have any questions or need help with signing up.
Apply to Serve at General Conference
Visit WelcomeToGC.org to apply to serve, discover places to stay, explore Charlotte highlights, & find local churches.
919-779-6115
800-849-4433 (Toll-Free)
NC Conference of
The United Methodist Church
700 Waterfield Ridge Place
Garner, NC 27529
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