UMF Endowment to benefit children in need
United Methodist Foundation is trustee of a special endowment called the “One Who Is Loved Fund.” This permanent endowment makes possible, love gifts (not to exceed $1,000 per year per child) to benefit 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 NCC 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. Deadline to apply is March 31. Contributions from others are invited and encouraged to enable this special granting fund to serve the needs of more children.
Upper Room Spiritual Formation Lunch
Clergy from the NC Conference are invited to attend a luncheon at Edenton Street UMC on Thursday, March 15 to hear Jerry P. Haas, Spiritual Director of The Upper Room lead a discussion on adult spiritual formation and leadership development. A member of the Desert Southwest Conference, Haas pastored churches for twenty-five years before moving to Nashville in 1999. He served as Director of the Academy for Spiritual Formation for twelve years and Project Director of a Lilly-funded initiative for pastors “Companions in Ministry.” During the lunch, he’ll bring an update on the ministry of The Upper Room and respond to questions. Cost of the lunch is $15, payable at the door (cash or check). Please make your reservation by emailing Beth Wakefield at: bwakefield@gbod.org no later than Monday, March 12. The church is located at 228 W. Edenton St. in Raleigh.
One Great Hour of Sharing – March 18
One Great Hour of Sharing enables the United Methodist Committee on Relief to reach out through worldwide ministries of food, shelter, health and peace. A special offering is taken on this day (or on a date which is convenient with the local church calendar) to support humanitarian aid through UMCOR. To learn more about UMCOR or to order resources to promote the offering, visit www.umcor.org or call 888-346-3862.
Not Your Parents’ Offering Plate
Pastors and laity are invited to a day of learning stewardship basics with a denominational leader in the area of financial stewardship. The seminar, entitled “Not Your Parents’ Offering Plate” will be led by Dr. J. Clif Christopher, author and President and Founder of Horizons Stewardship Co. Dr. Christopher is an ordained elder in the Arkansas Annual Conference. The seminar will be Monday, March 19, from 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. at the United Methodist Building in Garner. Space is limited so please email Katherine Wilder at: kwilder@nccumc.org to reserve a seat. A registration fee of $10 will be collected to help offset the cost of materials and lunch. Registration deadline is March 16. The seminar is planned to be streamed over the internet live and to be recorded for later on-line viewing. For more information about topics to be discussed, go to stewardship event.
Raleigh Cokesbury Store Grand Reopening
The Raleigh Cokesbury Store invites all to the Grand Reopening Celebration during the week of March 12-17. Special events throughout the week will include a “Breakfast with the Bishop” on Thursday, March 15 from 10 a.m.- noon with Bishop Al Gwinn. To see a list of all the special events, go to Cokesbury.
General Conference app launched
Mobile device users will be able to track legislation, watch videos and follow news at the 2012 General Conference through a new, free mobile application from United Methodist Communications. This comes in preparation for the meeting of the denomination’s top policy-making body in Tampa, Fla. April 24-May 4. (more)
2012 SEJ Historical Society to be in Nashville, TN
The 2012 Annual meeting of the SEJ Historical Society will be held July 9-12 at the Scarritt-Bennett Center in Nashville, TN. This year’s theme will be “The Church Confronts the World: Twentieth Century Southern Methodism and the Popular Culture.” The Tennessee Conference Historical Society is hosting the SEJ this year. You do not need to be a member of the Historical Society to attend. The registration deadline is April 9. For more information on the schedule and registration, go to Historical Society.
Rebuilding to begin on Camp Don Lee pier
The pier at Camp Don Lee was washed out during Hurricane Irene in August, 2011. Since that time, many people have expressed the desire to help rebuild the structure and the NC Camping and Retreat Ministry is now ready to move forward. There are plans to begin rebuilding the pier the third week in March, 2012. That is less than a month from now. (more)
Remember the Dates:
March 17 DBOM St. Patrick’s Day Auction and Hoedown (more)
April 14 Jack and Kay Crum Conference on Prophetic Ministry (more)
News Briefs is a conference communications tool to connect local churches with the conference, jurisdiction, and the General church. The e-mail newsletter is sent weekly with announcements, event notices and dates to remember. Pastors are encouraged to make News Briefs available to church staff and committee members by submitting email addresses to the Conference Communications office: Communications@nccumc.org and to local church members by printing News Briefs announcements in church bulletins and newsletters.