connections: The third Sunday in Advent
As we move toward the third Sunday in Advent, Bishop Ward reflects on Mary’s Magnificat and the significance of giving to the Imagine No Malaria campaign during this season.
Making food available and supporting those who provide
The Come to the Table Project will present the “Head, Heart, and Hands” conference series on how people of faith can relieve hunger and support local agriculture in North Carolina. Two of the three regional day-long events are scheduled to take place in the bounds of the North Carolina Conference (Lumberton and Elon) in early 2015. During each event, topics will include church community gardening, making healthy local food more accessible, empowering youth through food and farming projects, and finding support for your ministry. The Lumberton event will be Jan. 23 at the Southeastern Agricultural Events Center. Click here to register for this event.
The Elon event will be held Feb. 26 at Elon Community Church. Chas Edens from Anathoth Community Garden in Cedar Grove (a conference Advance Special project) will be a presenter at this gathering. Click here to register for this event.
2015 YSF grant Applications due Jan. 16
Youth Service Fund (YSF) is a mission fund exclusively of United Methodist Youth. YSF is money raised by youth, spent by youth to benefit youth. For every dollar of YSF money raised, $.30 goes to the General Church Division on Ministries with Young People where youth from across the US determine grants given to ministries helping youth across the world. The $.70 that remains in the NC Conference is used 1/3 for Conference Youth Ministry, 1/3 for In-Conference Projects and 1/3 for Out-of-Conference Projects. Grant applications must be postmarked by Jan. 16 to be considered. Funds will be distributed in February and March. Applications are available from the Youth Ministries Office (contact Robin Harry – rharry@nccumc.org) or by clicking YSF Grant Application.
Gathering to address evangelism to young adults
What does it take to reach young adults? If your church is struggling with this question, get some help in answering it at the Commission on Evangelism’s Advanced Academy of Christian Witness to be presented Jan. 29-31 at the Courtyard by Marriott in Carolina Beach. Dr. Elaine Heath, the McCreless Professor of Evangelism at Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University, will be the key presenter. She will offer inspiration and explore various ways local churches can understand and reach young adults in ways that produce healthy discipleship. To register, go to evangelism.