UMCom offering ReTHINK Church worship resources for Advent season
The United Methodist Church is encouraging people to think “outside the gift box” to make Christmas more about substance and less about stuff as it launched its Advent advertising campaign airing on CNN Headline News Nov. 24-Dec. 27. View the clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45K-lsc1Wuk. United Methodist Communications is also providing links to video stories related to each week’s Advent themes – promises, salvation, repentance and servanthood. These 90-second clips can be used in worship settings and small study groups. There is also a four-week series of lectionary-based sermon starters to equip pastors to help congregants navigate the spiritual pitfalls of a hectic and emotionally-challenging time of year. All resources are free, downloadable and available at www.rethinkchurch.org/sermonstarters.
Register for the 2010 Confirmation Retreat at Chestnut Ridge
The Confirmation Retreat at Chestnut Ridge will be Feb. 26-28. Speakers and leaders include Bill Gattis, Molly Shivers, Jan Thornton-Irvine, Duane Partin, Rich Greenway and Rhonda Parker. Plenary and workshop topics include baptism, scripture, service, worship, Methodism, and Christian life. Activities include worship, small group break-out sessions, stole making, music, service and traditional camp fun (campfires, smores, canoeing.) Cost for the event is $80 per participant, which covers 2 nights of lodging, 4 meals (all 3 meals Saturday and breakfast Sunday), and program materials. Churches are asked to provide one adult chaperone per six confirmands. To register or ask questions, email: rhonda@campchestnutridge.org.
Christian Educator’s Fellowship Christmas Luncheon
Join Christian Educator colleagues Dec. 9 at 12:30 p.m. at Millbrook UMC in Raleigh for the annual Christmas luncheon. Reservations are needed by Dec. 3. More details are available at https://nccumc.org/christian-education/cef-news/. To make a reservation or for more information, contact Robin Harry: rharry@nccumc.org or call 800-849-4433 ext. 252.
Grants offered to attend Congress on Evangelism
The Congress on Evangelism will be accepting grant requests for those attending the Congress on Evangelism in January 2010. For consideration, please e-mail Rev. Linda Harris: leeharris@nccumc.org with your projected travel plans and costs by Dec. 2.
Need some new Christmas gift ideas?
If you’d like to honor a loved one or a colleague with a gift that can “change the world,” go to http://new.gbgm-umc.org/UMCOR/getconnected/resources/christmas/. United Methodist Committee on Relief has many affordable ideas for gifts to missions and ministries which can be given in honor or memory of a friend or family member and will give children and adults around the world a glimpse of hope for health, nutrition, education, adequate shelter or livable wages. There are many other ideas on the conference website, https://nccumc.org/missions/rainbow-covenant/.
ZOE Ministry assists AIDS orphans in Africa
The United Nations reported recently that the number of people being tested and treated for HIV/AIDS had doubled in a number of countries, undoubtedly saving or at least prolonging countless lives. Unfortunately, the number of new HIV cases remains high – an estimated 2.7 million in 2007 – which means too many remain uneducated about the disease. For the rest of the article see: World AIDS Day. You can respond by supporting ZOE, reaching out to the most vulnerable children in the world – AIDS orphans. For information about Zoe Ministry, go to ZOE.
Robeson County Church and Community Center needs your urgent support
The Church and Community Center, serving one of the most impoverished counties in our state, deeply needs your support. During the fall of each year, due to the structure of many of the grants under which the RCC&CC runs, the Center enters a period of a funds flow shortfall. Because the Center moves such a great percentage of its resource into the community, the RCC&CC relies on contributions to operate through this period of shortfall. Please continue to support this critical ministry and if possible, make a gift now. Please mail checks directly to Robeson County Church and Community Center, 600 West 5th Street, Lumberton, NC 28358 or you can make a donation through your local church offering. Please note on the check: Robeson County Church and Community Center – Advance #791742. For more information please contact 910-738-5204 or email: rccccdir@ncrrbiz.com.
General Board of Church and Society Ethnic Local Church Grants due Jan 10
January 10 is the deadline to apply for an Ethnic Local Church Grant from the United Methodist General Board of Church & Society (GBCS). The grants program is to strengthen ethnic minority local churches through education, advocacy or leadership training and development as they engage in social justice. For more information, please see GBCS Ethnic Local Church Grants.
Herbert & Mary Zigbuo visiting North Carolina Conference
Herbert and Mary Zigbuo will be visiting local churches in the North Carolina Conference during the month of February 2010. Contact the Rev. Bill Haddock, Conference Mission Secretary, at revbillh@nccumc.org or 910-762-2583 to schedule a time for them to visit your church. Any size church or any size group can host the Zigbuos. To find out more about this missionary couple, read the bios at Herbert Bio and Mary Bio. For information on how to become a Covenant partner, please see: Covenant Relationships.
Human Relations Day Grant applications due Jan. 10
January 10 is the deadline to apply for a Human Relations Day Grant from the United Methodist General Board of Church & Society (GBCS). The grants are to support ministries that respond to non-violent young offenders through education, advocacy or leadership training and development. Grant funds are raised through The United Methodist Church’s Human Relations Day Special Sunday each year. Special Sundays are an opportunity for United Methodist churches to celebrate the denomination’s connectional work. This day of social action and raising awareness supports the Youth Offender Rehabilitation Program. For more information, go to GBCS Human Relations Day Grants.