Bishop Ward introduces 3MC marketing director
Bishop Ward and new 3MC marketing director, Jeannie Lee, discuss some new projects of the Center in this week’s Connections.
Registration Open for Convocation on the Black Church
The 2013 Convocation on the Black Church will be held Oct. 18-19 at Chestnut St. UMC, 200 E. Chestnut St., Lumberton. This years’ theme from Isaiah 52:2 is “Shake yourself from the dust, rise up.” The Convocation is open to both clergy and lay and features various breakout sessions for participants to choose from. Sessions will cover topics such as hospitality from the parking lot to the pew, using technology in ministry, creative worship styles for youth, imaginative ministry for rural/small churches, reviving the vision through coaching, and the culture of call to ordained ministry and ways for laity to serve. Registration costs $10.00 for adults. No fee is charged for those 18 and younger. There is much more information and registration options at Convocation.
UM Family Fun Days at Kings Dominion and Carowinds
August 31, September 1,2,14,15,28,29, and October 5,6,12,13 are designated as NC Conference United Methodist Family Fun Days at Kings Dominion and Carowinds. Tickets are available for United Methodists at the discounted cost of $29.99 per person ages 3 and up for those dates. To order tickets for Kings Dominion, go to www.kingsdominion.com and enter PROMO CODE: KDMETHODIST at the top right corner of the page. To order Carowinds tickets, go to www.carowinds.com and enter PROMO CODE: CAMETHODIST at the top right corner of the page. Place your credit card order and print out the ticket(s) to bring to the park. For each ticket redeemed, a $1 contribution is made to the conference Youth Service Fund.
The Academy to Train Interim Ministry Specialists
The Academy for Leadership Excellence would like to introduce a new initiative on training interim ministry specialists beginning in January, 2014. Registration/application guidelines and the application form can be found on the Academy website (www.theafle.org). Bishop Ward and the Cabinet are committed to deploying interim clergy in locations where there are specific transitional needs and opportunities. Clergy are encouraged to prayerfully consider if this is the season for discerning a new direction to their call. If interested, contact your district superintendent and/or complete the registration/application by Sept. 23. Bill Gattis or Leah Wiebe-Smith in the Academy office (919-208-2169) are available to answer questions.
New Retiree Health Insurance Plan Effective Jan. 2014
Getting Started Workshops will be held in September across the conference to explain the new retiree health insurance arrangement and enrollment process with Extend Health effective on Jan. 1, 2014. Current retirees, spouses and surviving spouses are encouraged to attend and to invite family members, trusted friends and caregivers. Participants are welcome to attend the workshop of their choosing. The schedule of these meetings and additional resources have been posted on the Insurance website. A letter and brochure with more details about the implementation of this arrangement was mailed on Aug. 16 to all current retirees, spouses and surviving spouses.
Two Important Opportunities for Persons Working with Children
The webinar, “Safe Sanctuaries: Children, Teachers, and Media,” will look at ways to address the rapidly evolving media world that will properly inform church leaders and protect the children in the church. This broadcast will be on Aug. 22 at 10 a.m. (Central Daylight Time). To register, go to Safe Sanctuaries.
Children’s Ministry 101 will be a learning experience for persons who teach a children’s class, preach the children’s sermon, lead children’s church, or would like to get involved in children’s ministry. Children’s 101 will be located at Horne Memorial UMC in Clayton on Sept. 28 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. A colorful, informative brochure with all the information is at Children’s Ministry 101.
Book Day/Day Apart – September 26
The NC Chapter of Christian Educators Fellowship will be hosting a Book Day/Day Apart at Fuquay-Varina UMC, Sept. 26, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Participants are invited to bring a resource or book that they have read and loved this past year and share it with everyone. Time will be available to have conversation with Carl Frazier, pastor of First UMC-Cary, and author of “Table Talk: A Community Approach to Bible Study.” The cost for the event is $10 and lunch will be served. Please contact Sue Ellen Nicholson at senick59@gmail.com to register and advise of any dietary restrictions. For more information, go to www.nccumc.org/christianformation/.
Conference Will Discuss Healthy Mission Strategies
Bob Lupton, author of “Toxic Charity” and “Theirs Is the Kingdom,” and founder/president of FCS Urban Ministries (Focused Community Strategies – fcsministries.org) will lead sessions about how churches can be in “healthy and life-giving ministries with the poor.” This conversation will be held at Covenant UMC in Winterville. There will be two discussions. The one on Friday, Sept. 6, from 7-8:30 p.m., in the worship center is open to anyone and everyone. The Saturday morning, Sept. 7 (9 a.m. – noon) session is open to anyone but will be specifically targeted towards church leaders, outreach/missions coordinators, and community outreach organizations. This is a free event. Child Care is available. For child care registration and more event information, follow the link at Covenant Events and click the 412 box.