May 9 Offering to benefit the United Methodist Retirement Homes
The Mothers’ Day Offering supports Benevolent Care Annual Fund for the United Methodist Retirement Homes and provides financial and personal resources for residents who can no longer fully pay for care. In many cases, these residents have no other means of support and often no family. Residents who benefit from this fund are still living independently or in assisted-living and are not yet eligible for any government subsidies. These residents are at Cypress Glen in Greenville, Wesley Pines in Lumberton and Croasdaile Village in Durham. Please offer your congregations the opportunity on May 9th to support this vital ministry in the United Methodist connection. Download the bulletin insert here.
Conference-wide Annual Conference briefing session scheduled
The Annual Conference briefing session for all districts will be at 3 p.m. on Sunday, May 23. All persons attending Annual Conference – pastors and lay members to Annual Conference – should make plans to view the session. Each district will have locations open for persons to go and view the session or it can be view from a member’s personal computer. To see where the district locations are, go to Conference briefing sessions. A weblink to the site, for persons watching from home, will be published in News Briefs at a time closer to the event and will be listed on nccumc.org. Pastors, please make sure the lay members from your church are aware of the time and locations of this event.
U2charist to benefit Disciple Bible Outreach Ministries
U2charist is a unique, live-music Communion worship experience featuring the music of the band U2 and bursting with a message of God’s call to service and outreach. Music is performed by NC-based rock band, U2FX. Haymount UMC in Fayetteville will host U2charist on Sunday, May 23. The evening will begin with a potluck dinner at 5:45 p.m (please bring a dish to share) and move to the worship service beginning at 6:30 p.m. There is no admission fee to attend but a love offering to benefit Disciple Bible Outreach Ministries will be received. If you have questions, contact the church office at (910) 484-0181, visit www.haymountumc.com or email krichardson@haymountumc.com.
NC Council of Churches to celebrate 75th anniversary
May 18 will be a day of celebration for the 75th anniversary of the North Carolina Council of Churches. There will be a gathering at Duke University for a time of reflection and fellowship, dinner, and a celebratory service led by Bishop Hope Morgan Ward. For the past 75 years, the history of our state has been reflected in the work of the North Carolina Council of Churches. By speaking for the least of these, the Council has been a crucial faith voice for progressive social justice in North Carolina. Click NCCC Anniversary to join in the celebration on May 18. Dinner reservations are needed by Tuesday, May 11.
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.
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.
Upcoming UMVIM team and Disaster Response Early Responder training events
In order to be a first responder for disaster response, persons must complete the early responder training and be certified. Classes will be held at the MERCI Center in Goldsboro on May 14 – 15. Recent unfortunate events with several different teams have shown the essential nature of team leader training and SEJ-UMVIM insurance. Anyone considering a UMVIM experience should attend this training. For more information or to register, please see: Early responder training.
Tornadoes and floods pummel Southeast
Tornadoes tore through Mississippi, Arkansas, and Tennessee in the past two weeks, followed by devastating flooding. UMCOR is responding to all of these areas. Please pray for those who have suffered losses in these tragic storms and help UMCOR respond with a gift to US Domestic Disaster Response, UMCOR Advance #901670. Put the gift in the Sunday morning offering or give online at US Disaster Relief.
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. Please receive this offering on May 30. For more information and to read how Jesus has transformed lives through the programs supported by Peace with Justice offerings, go to Peace with Justice Sunday.