One Great Hour of Sharing Sunday, March 10
Bishop Ward shares about the impact of giving through Special Sundays like One Great Hour of Sharing in this week’s Connections. Bulletin inserts, posters, children’s sermons, and other OGHS resources are available for free online.
Reports due to Conference Secretary
All reports to be included on-line and presented at Annual Conference are due in to our office by May 1. Reports must be submitted via email to: smedlin@nccumc.org and in MSWord format.
Lake Junaluska’s Centennial Celebration in 2013
In 2013, Lake Junaluska will celebrate 100 years of being a place for spiritual enrichment, leadership development and recreation. The Lake Junaluska Centennial Celebration will be a year-long series of signature events and special functions. The vision is that the Centennial will inspire people to celebrate the past, envision the future, and share the Lake Junaluska experience. To see a schedule of events celebrating the Centennial, go to Centennial.
Naturally Slim® Pilot Program Accepting Applications
The NC Conference pilot program with Naturally Slim® enables participants to develop a lifestyle of eating their favorite foods while still improving health and losing weight. The program includes 10 self paced, online video sessions, as well as frequent correspondence and positive guidance from a team of counselors over a 10 week period. Eligible applicants must complete the online application by Friday, March 15, agree to the program requirements, and be accepted. Participation is free and the personal application information is confidential. Visit the Insurance page for program and application details.
Retreat for pastors serving Hispanic/Latino communities
A Retreat for Pastors Serving Hispanic/Latino Communities will be held at Lake Junaluska April 8-10. During this retreat, Hispanic and Non-Hispanic/Latino leaders serving the H/L community will have the opportunity to immerse themselves and reflect on the rich Wesleyan heritage they have as United Methodists. This year’s session will be led by Rev. Dr. Edgardo Colon-Emeric Assistant Professor of Theology at Duke Divinity School. The registration fee is $50.00 in a double occupancy room (there is an extra cost of $40.00 if a single occupancy room is requested) and $15.00 for CEUs unit due to a generous grant by the Duke Endowment. The absolute deadline to register is March 8. To register please contact Idia Piacentini at (919) 660-3447 or email: ipiacentini@div.duke.edu.
Raleigh and Duke Divinity Cokesbury stores closing in April
The Raleigh Cokesbury Store on N. Market Dr. is closing April 27 and the Duke Divinity School store will close April 26. They are both having a 30% or more discount sale from now until closing on everything that is left in the stores while supplies last (excluding VBS and quarterly curriculum.) All sales are final. Stop by and take a look and while there, thank the employees for their faithful service. Cokesbury Christian Resources will continue to be available by calling a Cokesbury Care Representative at 800-672-1789 or by visiting the website, Cokesbury.com.
Methodist University to host theologian
Methodist University will host author and Roman Catholic theologian Dr. John F. Haught for this year’s Bullard-Templeton Lecture, which will start at 11 a.m. Monday, Mar. 18, in Yarborough Auditorium in Clark Hall. The event is free and open to the public. The annual Bullard-Templeton Lecture Series brings one distinguished speaker to campus each year to explore the relationship between science and religion. Haught’s topic will be “Darwin and God: What Is the Problem?” Haught is a senior fellow of science and religion at Woodstock Theological Center in Georgetown University and the author of 19 books. For more information about the Bullard-Templeton Lecture, please contact Dr. Lloyd Bailey at 919.489.8731 or send an e-mail to: lloyd@duke.edu.
Deacons and Diaconals to have a learning day
Deacons and Diaconal Ministers of the NC Conference will gather on Wednesday, March 27 at the Methodist Building in Garner. Beginning around 9:15 a.m., there will be a conversation with Bishop Ward and then a technology session with Douglas Ward, Director of IT Services for the conference. Only cost is a $5.00 donation for lunch. Please RSVP your plan to attend to Betty Ann Buckley at: bbuckley@nccumc.org by March 18.
Walking Program Steps It Up on April 1
Beginning April 1, participants in the NC Conference walking program must wear the pedometer 65% of the time and average 1,000 steps per day to earn the Visa card rewards. The 1,000 step per day average is a new requirement. Also starting April 1, participants can earn up to an additional $50 in Visa reward cards by walking 2,000 “aerobic steps” per day on 65% of the days during the journey. Participants will continue to walk for up to $250.00 in Visa reward cards, but if participants walk 2,000 “aerobic steps” per day for 65% of the days, they can earn up to $300 in NCC Visa reward cards during 2013. For program and enrollment details, visit the Insurance website.
UM Foundation offers children medical assistance
United Methodist Foundation is trustee of a special endowment called the “One Who Is Loved Fund,” a permanent endowment which makes gifts (not to exceed $1,000 per year per child) to children under the age of 19 who have special needs such as specialized medical equipment or supplies/medicine, transportation to hospitals or treatment centers, or other special needs. Pastors of the NC Conference are encouraged to recommend children for the “One Who Is Loved” Fund. Inquiries and requests for consideration for gifts from the fund should be directed to United Methodist Foundation office, 700 Waterfield Ridge Pl., Garner NC 27529 by March 29. Contributions from others are invited and encouraged to enable this special granting fund to serve the needs of more children.