Annual Conference briefing session scheduled for Sunday, May 23
The Annual Conference Briefing Session is scheduled for 3 p.m., Sunday, May 23. Each district will have viewing locations set up for persons wishing to participate. These locations can be found at Briefing Session locations.
Persons wishing to view the information session from a home computer can log onto https://nccumc.org/events/video-dashboard/ or access the location from the conference website, nccumc.org. The session site will be up by 2:45 p.m. on May 23. The program begins at 3 p.m. All persons attending Annual Conference – pastors and lay members to Annual Conference – should make plans to view the session. Pastors, please make sure the lay members from your church are aware of the time and locations of this event. All items related to conference is available on the Internet at nccumc.org, events, annual conference.
May 30 is Peace with Justice Sunday – Special Offering
Peace with Justice Sunday, one of the United Methodist Special Sundays with offering, will be observed May 30. This Special Sunday offering supports programs that advocate peace and justice at home and around the world. Half of the offering collected by an annual conference is retained to fund local peace with justice programs. In addition, half of the offering is remitted to the General Board of Church & Society (GBCS) to help fund U.S. and global work in social action, public-policy education and advocacy. For more information, go to Peace with Justice Sunday.
UMB Staff preparing to move
The United Methodist Building will be closed on Thursday, May 27, to allow staff to participate in the 2010 Go Green: Productive Environments Day. This day is geared to clearing clutter and organizing business files in preparation for the upcoming move to the new facility in late June 2010. Phone calls will be received through voice mail on Thursday, May 27, and will be returned on Friday, May 28.
Media Center Survey
The new Conference Media Center Associate, Laura Dallas, would like to know more about your church’s wants and needs for the Media Center at the new building. Please take a few minutes to complete this survey: http://is.gd/bYZph.
First Parish Project: A Support and Enhancement Program for Beginning Clergy
First Parish Project, funded by the Lilly Endowment and by Hinton Rural Life Center, is a continuing education program aimed at developing and sustaining effective pastoral leadership in the small membership church (understood in this context as those congregations that average 100 or less at the principal weekly worship service). It targets pastors who are (1) age 35 or younger, (2) serving their first full-time pastorate, (3) which is a small membership church. The program is ecumenical, i.e. open to clergy of all denominations. Applications for Group VIII being accepted now. Session 1 is Aug. 16-20. For more information please see Hinton Rural Life – First Parish.
Robeson County Church and Community Center invites Mission Work Teams
The Church and Community Center, serving the one of the most impoverished counties in our state, has openings for summer and spring-break mission work teams. The Church and Community Center is also a general advance of the UMC. To schedule a mission work team placement, please call Jim Kennedy at 910-738-5204. Also continue to support this critical ministry and if possible, make a gift now. Please mail your check directly to the Church and Community Center at: Robeson County Church and Community Center, 600 West 5th St., Lumberton, NC 28358 or make a donation through a local United Methodist church. Please note on the check: Robeson County Church and Community Center – Advance #791742. For more information please contact 910-738-5204, or email rcccchousing@ncrrbiz.com.
Communications Office to sell Conference Pictorial directories
The Conference Communications Office has a limited number of pictorial directories available to laypersons and pastors who did not have a photo included. (Pastors who were photographed should receive a free directory from their district office.) The cost of one book is $5.00 to cover shipping and handling. Please send a check payable to the NC Conference in the amount of $5.00 to NC Conference – Raleigh Area, P.O. Box 60053, Charlotte, NC 28260-0053. Include on the memo/comment line: “for pictorial directory.” The mailing information (name and a complete mailing address) is also needed with a daytime telephone number. Orders will be taken until May 28.
UM Foundation seeks input
United Methodist Foundation, Inc. (UMF) is asking local church and conference leaders to provide feedback about the current ministry services of the Foundation. District leaders, pastors, local church financial secretaries or business administrators, chairs of church endowment committees, Legacy Leaders, and interested lay persons are all invited to respond to this performance survey. The replies will help UMF gauge the effectiveness of current programs, as well as alert them to new or expanded services that would be of value to the conference. Responses from churches not currently using the services of UMF are especially desired. All responses are confidential and anonymous. To respond, please go to UMF Survey and respond by May 31. For further information about this survey, contact Rev. Jim Mentzer at jmentzer@nccumc.org.
Celebrating Our Heritage – Methodism On the Roanoke
Methodism in North Carolina began in 1772 when a circuit rider, Robert Williams, preached in farm yards, fields and forests along the Roanoke River. On Saturday, May 22, 10:30 a.m., there will be a dinner on the grounds in the Apple Yard (1010 Hinton Mill Rd., Boydton, VA 23917, Smith Creek on Lake Gaston). Gospel singing and heritage stories are scheduled for 11 a.m. Dinner will be served at noon (Brunswick stew, grilled chicken and pork will be provided.) Bring side dishes and deserts. A circuit rider, Rev. Jon Strother, supported by a choir, will arrive and preach at 1 p.m. Please invite friends and neighbors.
Trail Hike Registration Deadline June 7
The registration deadline for the Appalachian Trail Hike for high school youth is June 7. The Trail Hike will leave from the new Methodist Building in Garner on Saturday, July 10 and will return Saturday, July 17. The week includes hiking and camping along approximately 50 miles of the Appalachian Trail. The registration form may be found in the 2010 Youth Events brochure which is available for download from the “Events” page of the website www.nccumc.org/youth/events.
Commission on Missions seeking Key Taylor Award nominations
Rural church nominations for consideration of the Key Taylor Award are needed by May 25. Congregations are welcomed to nominate themselves. For 2010, $1300 will be awarded. The award, sponsored through the United Methodist Foundation, is to call attention to the mission work of all rural churches, by honoring the specific achievements of one rural church. To nominate a church, respond via email in a one-page narrative based on the criteria below to Kathy Reavis: kreavis@nccumc.org at the Office of Outreach Ministries. Please include the name of the church and district. Criteria includes: a) the church is in a community of less than 1,500 people; b) the church has 250 members or less; c) the church is significantly involved in community mission; d) the church shows faithfulness in its stewardship of the mission and service commitments (apportionments) and supports Advance Specials; and e) the church displays commitment towards growth in ministry and perseverance toward accomplishing their vision of ministry.
Bishop Gwinn to Speak at Clergy Breakfast on Immigration
This year, the NC Council of Churches is continuing its successful statewide series of “Clergy Breakfasts” on immigration. These events are for faith leaders and provide an overview of immigration issues. Three sessions will be held within the North Carolina Conference geographic area: June 8 – United Church of Chapel Hill in Chapel Hill; June 15 – Camp Ground UMC in Fayetteville; and July 1 – Fairmont UMC in Raleigh. The speakers for the July 1 breakfast include Bishop Al Gwinn and Rev. Ismael Ruiz-Millan, pastor at Unidos por Cristo UMC in Grimesland. For more information, call 919-828-6501 or see http://www.welcometheimmigrant.org/.