Resources available to highlight relief efforts in Haiti
Bulletin covers and bulletin inserts, newspaper ads, and web graphics highlighting the United Methodist response to the Haiti disaster are available for download by clicking here.
Support ZOE Ministry by purchasing hand-made creations
ZOE Ministry is pleased to support a new opportunity offered through Bidzirk, an online distributor based in South Carolina. ZOE invites you to support the work of a group of Rwandan orphans who have made handmade Christmas cards, beautiful woven baskets, and jewelry. The items are now available through Bidzirk in their Partnering with Africa online store. In keeping with Giving Hope principles, ZOE Ministry will not receive any revenue from these items purchased at Fair Trade prices. Visit MailScanner has detected a possible fraud attempt from “mail.zoeministry.org” claiming to be http://www.bidzirk.com/zoe/index.html to support this important work that has the potential to yield self sustaining empowerment for generations to come.
Reminder: MTF Payments Due
The annual contributions payments to the Ministers’ Transition Fund (MTF) are due to the Treasurer’s Office no later than Jan. 31. According to the plan document (2008 Journal, page 435), payments received after Jan. 31 will be returned to the minister. This lack of payment may result in either a delay of when the MTF member may begin to receive dividends or the member may not receive the 2009 dividend, depending on how long the member has been enrolled in the Fund. For more details about the benefits of this Fund and to obtain an enrollment application, visit the Pensions Page on the Treasurer’s Office Web site https://nccumc.org/treasurer/pensions/ or contact JoAnna Cafferty (1-800-849-4433 ext. 225).
APPEAL training to be offered in Durham
APPEAL (A Progressive Palliative Care Educational Curriculum for the Care of African Americans at Life’s End) training is coming to the Durham Marriott Convention Center Feb. 12-13. This interdisciplinary training offers technical palliative care expertise hand-in-hand with insights into caring for African Americans at the end of life. It is designed for those working in hospitals, hospices, outpatient clinics, nursing homes and office-based settings. Participants will leave this training with increased palliative care knowledge and skills as well as greater confidence and ability to communicate with African American patients and families. Physicians, nurses, social workers, medical chaplains and other clergy, psychologists, counselors, hospice and hospital administrators, pharmacists and family caregivers are invited to attend. Learn more about APPEAL at http://www.iceol.duke.edu/events/appeal/index.html or go to the registration page at http://www.iceol.duke.edu/events/appeal/rdu/registration.html.
General Board of Church & Society Peace with Justice Day grants due Feb 12
CORRECTION: The deadline date for the Peace with Justice Day Grants stated in the previous editions of News Briefs was incorrect. The correct date is Feb. 12.