April 7, 2009 - News Briefs

NC Conference clergy to discuss Prison Ministry on Public Television
Bruce Pate, retired member of the NC Annual Conference and long-time prison ministry leader and volunteer will be interviewed by Dr. Bill Friday on his Public TV series, North Carolina People. The focus will be on Yokefellow Prison Ministry of NC, the longest continuous prison ministry in North Carolina, celebrating 40 years in our state’s prisons. Yokefellow Prison Ministry is currently active in 54 state prisons with 800 active volunteers. Bruce is a member of the State Yokefellow Board of Directors, representing the N.C. Conference. The interview will be shown on WUNC-TV on Friday, April 10 at 9 p.m. and Sunday, April 12 at 5:30 p.m. The program will also be available on digital cable or service with Time-Warner over UNC-TV Monday, April 13 at 7:30 a.m., 8:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. and Wednesday, April 15 at 8:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m., 4:30 p.m. 8:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m.

In-depth training on identifying personal strengths and using them
The Conference Academy for Leadership Development is sponsoring a day-long learning event, Ministry by Strengths, on Tuesday, May 5, at St. James UMC in Greenville. Sue Nilson Kibbey, executive pastor from Ginghamsburg UMC (Ohio), will be presenting an in-depth training on identifying personal strengths and using them for greater ministry effectiveness, motivating and exciting the church family and deploying the right people to the right roles. The event will run from 9:30 a.m.- 4 p.m. The cost is $75, plus the cost of StrengthsFinder 2.0 book and survey (21.95 list price, less expensive on-line.) For more information, go to www.nccumc.org/academy or e-mail lwiebesmith@nccumc.org.

Board of Laity seeking nominations for ACTS II churches
The Acts II Congregation Selection Criteria and Nomination Request Form can be found at ACTS 2 criteria and nominations form. Please note April 15 is the date when the local church should have their form to the District Office. May 5 is the date for the District Office to turn in their selected forms and photographs to Bill Norton at the Methodist Building in Raleigh.

AC Briefing Sessions have been scheduled
2009 Annual Conference Briefing sessions will be held Saturday, May 16, 10 a.m.- noon in Greenville (location to be announced) and 2:30-4:30 p.m. at Hay Street UMC in Fayetteville. Another session is scheduled for Sunday, May 17, 3-5 p.m. in Raleigh (location to be announced.) Clergy, please provide this information to local church lay member of Annual Conference. Both clergy and lay members of Annual Conference should attend one of the three sessions.

Conference UMM golf tournament to benefit MERCI
The NC Conference United Methodist Men announce a Golf Tournament to benefit MERCI, May 14 at Lane Tree Country Club, Goldsboro. Register by noon for the 1 p.m. shotgun start. The Tournament is open for four-person Superball (Captain’s Choice) teams. The cost is $65 per person or $260 per team, which includes a barbeque meal and prizes. Registration is made through MERCI, 888-440-9167.

Lay Staff of United Methodist Churches in the Raleigh and Durham Districts
A presentation on The United Methodist Personal Investment Plan (UMPIP) will be given by Peter Hang, benefits educator for The General Board of Pension and Health Benefits, on Tuesday, April 21, 10 a.m. – 12 noon at Hayes Barton UMC in Raleigh. The presentation was organized for local church lay employees who participate in the UMPIP. Anyone planning to attend should call Russell Wilcox at Hayes Barton UMC, 919-832-6435, so he will know the number of seats needed. Details will be presented about the 403(b) retirement plan including 1) the different funds available at The General Board Of Pension; 2) how to check on individual personal investment elections (fund allocation); 3) what individual distributions options are available; 4) how to access and navigate OASIS (Online Account Services Information System); 5) how to access a UMPIP account through Hardship Loan; 6) how to check on individual risk tolerance for LifeStage Investment Management Service (free service offered by General Board of Pension.) Peter Hang will also be available to meet privately to discuss any individual pension-related questions you might have.

ZOE VBS Mission Moments ready in April
Designed as a daily VBS mission supplement, the ZOE VBS material consists of five sessions lasting five minutes each. It features pictures and videos of children in our ZOE Ministry programs and enables children here in the United States to share their love and resources with children in Africa. Packets go out the week of April 14. If you would like to receive one and have not contacted ZOE, please send the following information to info@zoeministry.org: name and email, mailing address plus zip, telephone, and name of church.

Calling all musicans, dancers, singers, organists
The Annual Conference Worship Committee is responsible for the worship services at Annual Conference. Elise Eslinger will be serving as the Worship Leader and is helping to design the services for Annual Conference. In order to provide exciting, passionate music for the services, anyone interested in participating in the worship services through music ministry is invited to submit a video or audio tape of their musical talent. Please submit tapes by April 10 to Andrew Wheeler (Director of Music, Centenary UMC, Smithfield), President of the Fellowship of United Methodist in Music and Worship Arts; PO Box 592; Benson, NC 27504; 919-915-0224.) Questions can be addressed to Andrewwheeler@embarqmail.com.

Native American Ministries Sunday is April 26
On Native American Ministries Sunday, United Methodists cultivate and support urban missions with Native Americans and fund scholarships for Native American seminarians. The North Carolina annual conference retains 50 percent of the offering to strengthen and develop Native American ministries within our conference. The remaining 50 percent of the offering expands mission work with the Native American Urban Initiative and provides scholarships for Native Americans attending United Methodist and other approved schools of theology. For resources and promotional materials, go to http://www.umcgiving.org.

Aging to Perfection?
Know everything needed to know about end of life legal issues? How to monitor personal health? How to rely on prayer in difficult times? What are the best nutritional practices? Help with coping skills when a loved one is dying or finding yourself single? How to find real joy in Grand parenting? Workshops to help in these areas and more will be offered. Come to the day a part for Older Adults and those who work with Older Adult Ministries. It will be held at St. James UMC in Greenville: May 13 from 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. The day will include workshops, displays, time for networking at lunch, and a closing worship service led by Bishop Gwinn. Deadline for registration is April 23. A registration brochure with full details is available: https://nccumc.org/olderadults/ Planned by the NC Conference Older Adult Ministries Committee.

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