The Trail of Hope: The Power of Native American Women
October 7-9. SEJANAM and Lake Junaluska will host the second Native Women’s Gathering and Conference Oct. 7-9. The conference will focus on capacity building, sharing strategies, and tapping into the leadership capabilities of Native American women to strengthen their communities and churches. Come and hear the hopeful stories of women who have impacted their communities for the greater good. For more information or to register, click here Native American Women or call 828-454-6656.
2011 Mother-Child Retreat
Camp Don Lee – Sept. 16 -18
Space is still available – registration deadline is Aug. 25
Plan to come to Camp Don Lee for a great, fun-time weekend and a wonderful opportunity to bond and spend quality time with your child (children), grandchild (grandchildren), etc. The attached registration form has further details. Registration Forms received after Aug. 25 will be honored only if space is available. Please make your check payable to NC Conference UMW and send registration form to LaNella Smith, 1215 Shady Lane, Durham, NC, 27712.
Amazing Pace Walking Program Update
As walking program participants may be aware, we are currently unable to upload the pedometers to the Amazing Pace website. There is an update available regarding this outage and the status of the walking program. Please visit the Conference Insurance website Insurance for details.
An evening with Leonard Sweet
All pastors and their congregations are cordially invited to an evening of “Sweet Dreams” on Saturday, Oct. 1 at 6 p.m. at the North Raleigh Hilton. The “Sweet Dreams” fundraiser dinner, to benefit the NC UM Camps and Retreats Ministries, promises to be a fun and exciting evening. Dr. Leonard Sweet, the keynote speaker, is renowned for publishing over 1000 sermons and dozens of books. He has been called “one of the church’s most important and provocative thinkers.” For more information about the “Sweet Dreams” evening, please visit Camps. Tickets are available online at www.ncumcamps.org/sweetdreams.
Beginning clergy project taking applications
Applications are being taken for the Nov. 11-18 program of the First Parish Project, a support project for beginning clergy funded by the Lilly Endowment and by Hinton Rural Life Center, a mission agency of the Southeastern Jurisdiction of The United Methodist Church. First Parish Project is a continuing education program aimed at developing and sustaining effective pastoral leadership in the small membership churches that average 100 or less at the principal weekly worship service. The program is open to clergy of all denominations. Learn more at First Parish Project.
Extravagant Generosity: The Heart of Giving
Pastors, church financial leaders, and stewardship leaders are encouraged to participate in one of two stewardship workshops to be held in September. Leaders will include persons from the General Board of Discipleship and will feature the new funding program, “Extravagant Generosity: The Heart of Giving” by Michael Reeves, Jennifer Tyler, and Bishop Robert Schnase. Pick the time and place that is most convenient: Monday, Sept. 26 (1 – 6:00 p.m.) at St. James UMC: Greenville or Tuesday, Sept. 27 (1 – 6:00 p.m.) at St. Luke UMC: Sanford. For more information about this event, go to Generosity. To register, call Katherine Wilder at 919-779-6115 or email: kwilder@nccumc.org. A $10 registration fee is required to help offset the costs of materials and speakers.
The Future is Mestizo: Sept 16-17 at Duke Divinity School
Registration is now open for the fifth annual Reconcilers Weekend Conference, Sept. 16-17, at Duke Divinity School. The event, a joint effort of the Duke Center for Reconciliation and the Hispanic House of Studies, will feature Fr. Virgilio Elizondo, professor of pastoral and Hispanic theology at Notre Dame, and Kit Danley, founder of Neighborhood Ministries in Phoenix, AZ. The reconciliation conference, “The Future Is Mestizo: Communities of New Creation at the Borders of Separation,” is designed specifically for congregational leaders, seminarians and anyone who loves the church. Discover what it means to follow a Savior who was considered a child of an unknown father and who broke down ethnic and cultural boundaries. Explore how this mixed-heritage mestizo Jesus is calling people into a new human family based on love of God and love of neighbor. Translation to Spanish will be available. Learn more or register Reconcilers Weekend.
Methodist Days at Kings Dominion support YSF
Discount tickets for Kings Dominion are available to NC Conference United Methodist Church groups for September 1,2,3,4,5,10,11; and October 1,2,8,9,15,16,22,23, and 29. In addition to the savings in admission price of $28+, a rebate of $1.00 is offered to Youth Service Fund for each regular ticket redeemed. The flyer with information on how to purchase tickets online or by phone can be found at Kings Dominion 2011.
Volunteers apply to be marshal or page at General Conference
Volunteers can now apply online to serve as marshals or pages during The United Methodist Church’s 2012 General Conference. The denomination’s top legislative assembly will meet in Tampa, FL, April 24-May 4, 2012. Approximately 150 volunteers are needed during General Conference. Marshals and pages are responsible for their own travel and expenses. Marshals serve in the visitor and reserved seating galleries, assist visitors and special guests and check credentials for proper authorization. Pages assist delegates, secretarial staff, Bishops, members of the Judicial Council and official visitors. They distribute approved materials and deliver printed information. Those interested should submit an online application at marshal/page. Deadline for applications is Aug. 31. Applicants will be notified of their status by Nov. 30.
General Conference petition submissions now being accepted
Petitions for consideration by the 2012 General Conference may be submitted to the Petitions Secretary now through Sept. 27, 2011. According to church law, “Any organization, clergy member, or lay member of The United Methodist Church may petition the General Conference…” Detailed instructions for submitting a petition and more information about the process are available on the General Conference website at http://www.gc2012.umc.org/.