Bishop Ward reflects on Palm Sunday
Bishop Ward reflects on Palm Sunday in this week’s Connections.
Save the Date: Convocation on the Rural Church
Online registration for Duke Divinity School’s 2013 Convocation on the Rural Church will begin May 15 at 9 a.m. Pastors of rural churches that are eligible for Duke Endowment grants are invited to register for the event, which will be held August 12-14 at the Hilton Myrtle Beach Resort and Conference Center in Myrtle Beach, S.C. Thanks to the generous funding of The Duke Endowment, costs will be kept to a minimum. For additional information, visit the event website.
2013 Legislative Seminar at St. Mark’s UMC
The North Carolina Council of Churches’ 2013 Legislative Seminar brings together national experts with grassroots activists who share a progressive, prophetic vision for the state This year’s seminar takes place on Thursday, April 11 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. at St. Mark’s United Methodist Church, 4801 Six Forks Road, Raleigh. The Rev. Joseph Brown, Presiding Elder, African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, will lead worship, and the Rev. Fletcher Harper, Executive Director of GreenFaith, will lead the plenary on “Communicating the Values We Believe.” Register at Legislative Seminar or by calling 919-828-6501. Cost, including lunch, is $10 for students; $25 for all others. Lunch, provided by the Interfaith Food Shuttle’s Catering With A Cause, cannot be guaranteed after April 4.
CPI application deadline approaching
Comprehensive Plan of Inclusiveness grant applications are due no later than April 10 at 4 p.m. (if hand-delivered) or postmarked no later than April 10. No faxed applications will be considered and all must have the appropriate signatures. Do not wait until the due date to gather signatures. Plan ahead! Applications may be downloaded from the Leadership Ministries page.
Don Lee Camp Director to retire
The NC United Methodist Camp & Retreat Ministries announces the retirement of John A. Farmer, director at Don Lee Camp & Retreat Center effective Feb. 27, 2015. Since 1977, John has helped change people’s lives through encounters with God at this beautiful and blessed place on the Neuse River. A Search Committee is being formed to conduct a nationwide search for the next director. Details of the search, its timeline and application process will be forthcoming as well. In the meantime, we give thanks and praise for John Farmer’s loyalty and lifelong commitment to the camping ministry through his leadership at Don Lee Camp & Retreat Center.
UM Family Fun Days at Kings Dominion and Carowinds
March 29 – April 7; May 4, 11, 18, 25, 26 & 27 are designated as NC Conference United Methodist Family Fun Days at Kings Dominion and Carowinds. Tickets are available for United Methodists at the significantly discounted cost of $31.99 per person ages 3 and up for those dates. To order tickets for Kings Dominion, go to www.kingsdominion.com and type in username and password KDMETHODIST. To order Carowinds tickets, go to www.carowinds.com and enter promo code CAMETHODIST at the top right of the page. For each ticket redeemed, a $1 contribution is made to Youth Service Fund.
Rockfish 3rd Annual Adventure Run
Start training now for Rockfish’s 3rd Annual Adventure Run on April 27. All proceeds benefit programs and camperships (the scholarship program for campers who wouldn’t normally be able to afford coming to summer camp). Entry fee is $25 per runner, which covers the race fee as well as a race t-shirt. Runners will encounter 8-12 obstacles, barriers and challenges as they make their way. The 5k course winds throughout the trails within 486 acres. Lace up your shoes and come join in the fun. Go to Rockfish 5K for more information.
Churches asked to assemble birthing kits for AC
During Annual Conference 2013, in a partnership ministry of the NC Conference United Methodist Women, Church and Society and the Mission Team, there will be a collection of UMCOR Birthing Kits. Every 90 seconds a woman somewhere in the world dies from complications during pregnancy or childbirth. 356,000 women die every year, most of the deaths occurring in the developing world. Annually 4 million infants die within a month of being born. (more)
Seeking nominations for “Culture to Call” churches
The Foundation for Evangelism, a United Methodist ministry, is seeking nominations for the Culture of Call Church award. The award recognizes a United Methodist congregation that encourages young people to respond to God’s call to full-time Christian service. The deadline for submitting a nomination form is April 1.
DBOM 5K run/walk benefit postponed
The “March Mayhem” 5K run/walk, scheduled for March 23 has been postponed until the fall. Details for the fall event will be published when confirmed. For more information, go to 5k.
Methodist University to highlight issues of women in India
Fight For Her, an awareness event to discuss the global issues of rape and gender equality, will be held at Methodist University March 25, at 7 p.m. in Berns Student Center. The student-organized event will include a slideshow of recent protests in India, a brief talk from Dr. Jeremy Hustwit, chair of the Department of Philosophy and Religion, and a chance for discussion afterward. Hustwit will speak about how people construct and pass along their ideas about gender, and traditional gender roles in India. The event is sponsored by the Center for Community Engagement, Student Activities Committee, and SoJu, MU’s social justice committee.
Dates to Remember:
> Churches who have not yet observed and received an offering for “One Great Hour of Sharing” can still participate. Please offer church members the opportunity to contribute to this important UM Special Sunday which undergirds the operating expenses of UMCOR. Resource materials can be accessed at OGHS.
> March 29 – 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.
> April 1 – Registration deadline for the 2013 Clergy Partners’ Day of Renewal which will be held April 13 at Southern Pines UMC. Register here.
> April 11 — Free webinar “The Pastor’s Moving – the SPRC Role,” 6:30 p.m. CT, tips for saying goodbye and welcoming pastors for members of staff-parish relations committees from the United Methodist Board of Discipleship. Click to register.
> April 14 – Native American Ministries Sunday, in which a special offering benefits Native American outreach within annual conferences and provides seminary scholarships to Native Americans. Details and to donate.