Bishop Ward talks about the Council of Bishops
Bishop Ward discusses her meeting this week with the Council of Bishops in her latest Connections.
Introductory Sessions to Explain Insurance Proposal
The Conference Board of Pension and Insurance Committee are proposing changes to the retiree health care plan at Annual Conference in June. These changes will be effective January 1, 2014. Informational sessions will be held in each district to provide opportunity to give an overview of the changes being proposed and to answer questions on the proposal. Dates are posted on the District website. The same information will be shared at all sessions, so choose the one that works best for your schedule. All clergy and lay members of annual conference are invited to these sessions to learn about this proposal, but retirees, widow/ers and clergy approaching retirement age are specifically encouraged to attend.
Stop Hunger Now Packaging at 2013 Annual Conference
Stop Hunger Now’s meal packaging program is a volunteer-based effort to package highly nutritious dehydrated meals which are easily transported to crisis-burdened areas or to school feeding programs around the world. This year, persons attending Annual Conference are invited to help meet the challenge to package 100,000 meals during the three-day conference in Greenville – a goal which has been established by Bishop Hope Morgan Ward. To meet the goal, we need two things: volunteers to package the meals and donations of $.25 per meal. To accomplish the goal, we would need several hundred volunteers and $25,000 of donations. You do not need to be a delegate to Annual Conference to come and join us for this exciting event. To read more about this initiative or to register as an individual or as a group, go to Stop Hunger Now AC.
Have You Introduced Your Congregation to Chuck?
“Chuck Knows Church” is a weekly online video series, produced and shared by The General Board of Discipleship. Chuck is now on his 28th episode – Ushers. Use each episode in worship, youth groups, fellowship groups, confirmation classes, worship teams, and new member classes to answer questions about the church that people may be too shy to ask! Follow Chuck on the website: www.ChuckKnowsChurch.com, on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/ChuckKnowsChurch or on Twitter: @ChuckKnows.
Peace with Justice offering May 26
Peace with Justice Sunday gifts change lives in places where the joy of knowing Christ is mixed with the tragedy of violence. Peace with Justice 2013 is May 26. To read more about how Peace with Justices funds are used in the world, go to Peace with Justice. For resources to highlight and promote this offering, go to Special Sundays.
Festival of Wisdom and Grace July 29 – Aug. 1
The 2013 Festival of Wisdom and Grace Conference is sponsored by the SEJ Association of Older Adults. It is designed for older adults as well as for persons working with older adults in congregations. Conference leadership will include Dr. Rodney K. Powell, Conference Preacher; Missy Buchanan, Plenary Bible study Leader; Rev. Dr. Richard Gentzler, Professional Track; and the Lake Junaluska Singers in worship. The registration package includes three nights’ lodging, meals, snacks, conference registration, and materials. Download the registration form or register online. (Online registration includes registration fee only. Please call 800.222.4930 to reserve room and meals.) For questions about this event, contact Jenny Turner, registrar at: jturner@lakejunaluska.com.