eVoice 03.11.2010
News
UMCOR celebrates 70 Years of Hope in 2010
Vernon UMC reaches out with spirit of Conference priority of new congregations
Hopewell UMC begins new ministry to empower a new generation
- Churches share wisdom of generous giving
- Dealing with emotional aftershocks
- Radio station impacts Ivorians
- White House focuses on faith-based groups
- Conferences struggle to pay apportionments
- Missionary safety a ‘constant concern’
- Philippines will not release health workers
- Special session of General Conference unlikely
- United Methodist Men begin new chapter
- Concepción coping despite earthquake
- Women’s commission born in turbulent times
- Chile mourns for quake victims, plans response
- Giving, membership decline in recession
- Funds embargoed at two schools
- Offering is UMCOR’s ‘backbone’
Thank you North Alabama!
North Alabama Conference Controller Johnny Frazier reports, “Thru February 28 we have sent $226,515 cash donations and gifts from the North Alabama Conference office for UMCOR relief efforts to Haiti. These have been gifts from churches and individuals who sent their donations through the Conference Treasurer’s Office. This would, of course, not include any direct donations or gifts by churches or individuals to UMCOR or the GBGM." This total also does not include donations of health kits and other supplies donated for this relief effort.
Thank you North Alabama!
Nominate a Leader for a Conference Award
2010 Denman Evangelism Award
Nominations due March 15
This year those eligible for this prestigious award are pastors and lay persons who have exhibited leadership in evangelism and who have shown skill in developing leadership in evangelism. Neither the size of the local church, the age or gender of the nominee, nor the length of their service will limit eligibility.
The North Alabama Conference selection team will be giving emphasis to those nominees who are developing effective leadership in evangelism in accord with our conference priority. What is important is leadership in evangelism: not only who they have brought to Christ, but who they trained and mentored to bring others to Christ. How have they trained evangelism teams -- reach-out teams; caller teams; etc.? How have they motivated other people to communicate the Good News of Jesus Christ?
You may submit your nominations of a lay and/or clergy person by using an online form OR by downloading a printable form, filling it out and mailing in your nominations.
Click here for more information
Louise Branscomb Barrier Breaker Award
Nominations due April 7
In 1990 the United Methodist Women of the North Alabama Conference established the Louise Branscomb Barrier Breaker Award as a way for the Conference to annually recognize a United Methodist willing to risk and stand up for the rights of women and ethnic minority persons. Each year the Conference Commission on the Status and Role of Women (COSROW) continues to recognize these "barrier breakers" through this award.
North Alabama United Methodists are invited to nominate those who exhibit these characteristics each spring.
Click here for more information.
Upcoming Events
New Church Leadership Institute
Curious about church planting? Want to know more about planting a new church or satellite? This is an event for pastors and key leaders who are curious and want to explore some possibilities. No strings attached. This event will be led by Jim Griffith, founder of Griffith Coaching Network and veteran of five new church plants. Jim is the coach for our North Alabama new churches.
Health and Spirituality
Dr. John Simmons M.D. will lead a session on sprituality and healing for people who have terminal or chronic illness and their families. During these sessions issues such as grief, death and dying, curing or caring, health or illness will be discussed. We will use music, poetry, and personal stories to work through these four areas. We will review the evidence of the impact on health of such rituals as prayer, meditation, relaxation, etc. We will likely learn and practice some of these rituals.
Spirituality and Healing
A Retreat Model
1- Who am I?
During this session we explore the awe and wonder of being human and our place here and in the whole Cosmos.
2- The Dark Night.
Here we look at the meaning of suffering (and other dark night experiences). We address the question of how God is revealed during such experiences.
3- What is my purpose in life?
We look at how to be creative in health and in Illness by addressing such questions as how can I be creative; what will I leave behind; etc.?
4- Is life fair?
What is just about my illness? What is just about the world? What is my role in creating justice?
UTE-Ultimate Training Event- Training in Youth Ministry
Over 20 Seminars Available For Volunteers & Staff
Cost: $20 per participant; $15 per participant for groups of five (5) or more
Light Breakfast Included
Lunch Included
The Ultimate Training Event is a one-day conference sponsored by the Alabama-West Florida Conference focused on providing training in youth ministry on March 20, 2010 at Christ United Methodist Church in Mobile, AL. This year, the keynote speaker will be Jason Gant. Jason Gant is Director of Student Ministries at The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection, one of the fastest growing churches in America, and he is the author of a book focused on equipping volunteer youth leaders in the smaller church setting. Free Resources From Group and Youth Specialties - Each participant will recieve free resources from Group Publishing and Youth Specialties. There will also be several giveaways of resources from these and other companies. Along with Jason, youth ministers across our conference will be leading seminars throughout the day on all aspects of youth ministry from planning foreign mission trips to recruiting volunteers and from great youth game ideas to developing your speaking skills for youth talks. Churches are encouraged to send youth staff and volunteers to this invaluable day of training.
North Alabama Clergy Spouses - Babies First Benefit Luncheon 2010
Fellowship Hall
980 Hughes Road
Madison, Alabama 35758
Lunch and Program - Noon-1:30 p.m.
Individual Reservations $15
Sponsorship (Table for 8) $120
Make checks payable to the North Alabama Conference of the UMC
Reference Babies First Luncheon in the memo line, and
give checks to your clergy spouse or mail to:
Pat Bell
2116 Southwood Road
Birmingham AL 35216
Reservation deadline is March 19, 2010.
Your name tag will be waiting for you at the door.
For more information about Babies First, visit www.umch.net
Click for Flier: ClergySpouseLuncheon_ITF55FXN.pdf
NCD Coach Training
Birmingham, AL 35204
Natural Church Development is one of the North Alabama Conference priorites. Coaches are important to the NCD process for local churches.
For more information about this training and the costs contact Rev. Lori Carden at (205) 226-7953; 800-239-7950 or lcarden@northalabamaumc.org.
2010 Ebony Exploration
A weekend retreat for African-American senior high youth to discover, explore,and celebrate ministry as a vocation—Grades 9-12.... How Will You Holla Back?
During this time together, the youth, along with 20-25 Adult Mentors, will worship God through the ministry of education and exploration of various ministries within The United Methodist Church. The weekend will be grounded in spirit-filled worship, rich opportunities for small group sessions, fellowship and mentoring sessions for youth to discover, explore and celebrate a call to ministry. There will also be a resource fair with United Methodist-related seminaries and general agency representatives on-site.
Criteria for Participants:
- Participants must be serious about exploring ordained and/or lay ministry as a Christian vocation.
- Participants must be dedicated to the spiritual disciplines of prayer, weekend covenant groups, communal and private worship and a spirit of learning, listening, and sharing for the weekend.
- Participants must have shown potential to serve as a leader in their local church and live an active Christian life that exhibits the fruit of the Spirit among adults and their peers.
- Participants must be active members of a local church in The United Methodist Church.
- Participants must be current 9th, 10th, 11th or 12th graders.
Scholarships for North Alabama students
To work toward our Conference priorities of empowering a new generation and effective leadership, the North Alabama Conference Ethnic Ministries team will provide 10 youth from North Alabama with 100% sponsorship (including registration, meals & transportation) to the Ebony Exploration 2010 event. Please have interested youth submit a self-written one to two paragraph essay stating why they would like to be apart of the Ebony Exploration 2010 trip. All submissions need to be submitted by March 22, 2010, to nhillman@northalabamaumc.org. Pleases include full contact information with the essay.The 10 students whose submissions are chosen will be notified March 24, 2010.
Students not awarded scholarships are also encouraged to attend this event! The registration cost is $90.
For information on registration contact Nacole Hillman at nhillman@northalabamaumc.org (205) 226-7963 0r 800-239-7950
Download Travel and Health Form needed for Registration.
Download Flier: Ebony_Exploration_Retreat_Flyer(2010)_T5KM5IDY.pdf
ROOTS! - Retreat for Young Adults
Behold Ministries is excited to announce our first annual retreat especially for the young adult and college aged population.
We have a passion to see young adults come together to grow deeper in Christ, stronger in righteousness and further in outreach! Therefore, we are inviting college ministries both large and small to join together to enjoy a weekend of truth, worship, restoration and community.
At ROOTS you can expect to find biblically based teachings, prayerfully led worship and plenty of opportunity to build community both within your ministry and with other college ministries across the state.
Cost $75 per person (t-shirt included if registered by March 15). Registration in now open at www.roots.beholdministries.com . Spaces are limited so register early!
For more information visit: www.roots.beholdministries.com
Academy for Children's Ministry
Leadership Development
Jeanne Jackson - Birmingham-Southern Leadership Develpment Coordinator
Laura Sisson - Birmingham-Southern Church Relations
We will be developing your skills as a leader in Children's Ministry
Register with:
Rev. Leigh Meekins
leigh@awfumc.org
(334) 356-8014
Sounds of Sumatanga
11 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Come join friends for a day of fun by the lake at Camp Sumatanga!
Entertainment – Arts & Crafts – Food
Admission is $5 – Ages 4 and up
Proceeds benefit Camp Sumatanga
Also don't miss...
“An Evening in the Assembly Hall”
April 16, 2010
7 PM – 10 PM
Pool Camp Assembly Hall
Remember those wonderful evenings in the Assembly Hall during Summer Camp? You can have that experience again on the Friday evening before Sounds of Sumatanga. We’ll gather from 7 p.m. until 10 p.m. for games, singing, folk-dancing, story-telling by Nina Reeves, and entertainment by surprise guests. We’ll close the evening with a time of reflection and devotion and immediately afterward we’ll have a fire at the fire ring. You can support Sumatanga by staying overnight and being there early for Saturday’s events.
A Day with Wesley (for High school students)
Here's something just for your Senior High group!
Let your students experience what campus ministries have to offer.
Come to The University of Alabama Wesley Foundation on April 17, 2010, for The A-Day game.
Your Senior High Students will go to the game and have a worship service with current UA Wesley Foundation students. Lunch and Dinner will be provided. There will be live music entertainment as everyone eats and enjoys themselves!
If your senior high group is interested please RSVP by emailing either :
Paul Asbury: pwasbury@crimson.ua.edu Or Mack Savage: zmsavage@crimson.ua.edu
Look for more details in the coming weeks!
Kate Campbell – In Concert
General Admission: $12 in advance, $15 at the door
Tickets may be purchased online at www.eastlakeumc.net (with a service charge) or at the church office (Monday - Friday, 8:30 - noon)
With her compassionate tone and sometimes-quirky approach, Kate Campbell has made a musical niche for herself telling stories exploring the complex topics of race, religion, history and human relationships.
Since making her recording debut in 1995 with the heart-rending Songs From The Levee, singer/songwriter Kate Campbell has since put together a body of work matched only (perhaps) by Emmylou in consistency, Lucinda Williams in terms of pure, wrenching, honest self-examination and self-revelation and no one for its sheer display of broad-based, intimate artfulness. While doing so, she has managed to include the likes of Guy Clark, Emmylou Harris, Nanci Griffith, Maura O’Connell, Buddy Miller and the heart of the Muscle Shoals classic soul and R&B hit-making machine as both admirers and collaborators in her distinctly literate musical vision. Her endearing, clear-water vocal delivery, eloquent gift for storytelling (which has drawn repeated comparisons to such bastions of the Southern writing tradition as Flannery O'Connor, Eudora Welty and William Faulkner) and easy command of a full-range of American music styles, have combined to earn Campbell recognition as a formidable talent by critics, musicians and a discerning public. Kate's sublime Moonpie Dreams (1997) and Visions Of Plenty (1998) each garnered "Folk Album Of The Year" nominations from the Nashville Music Awards (as well as enthusiastic airplay by Triple-A, folk and Americana stations), while the southern-folk tinged Rosaryville (1999) and the gospel flavored Wandering Strange (2001) extended the upward-bound arc.
Workshop for local church disability ministries chairpersons - NE and NW Districts
The Northeast and Northwest Districts are joining together to hold a workshop for all local church disability ministries chairpersons.
The workshop will be Saturday, April 17, 2010, from 10 a.m. until 11:30a.m. at Somerville United Methodist Church.
Refreshments will be served and materials distributed.
There is no cost, but organizers ask participants RSVP by emailing Debbie Wade debowade@bellsouth.net or calling her at (256)778-7783 (home) or (256)303-1527 (cell).
Basic Lay Speaking Course
Mountain Lakes District will hold a Basic Lay Speaking Course on Saturday, April 24, at the District Office. Rev. Bill Gandy and District Lay Leader, Cathy Williams will teach the course. Registration deadline is April 8, 2010.
Cost: $30.00, includes materials, lunch & snacks
Make check payable (in advance) to: Mountain Lakes District (Please indicate on check - Lay Speaking Course) To register, call Amy Marbut at the District Office, 256-546-7405. You will need to give your name, address, telephone, email & district information. If you have questions, please contact Cathy Williams at 205-243-9302.
Alpha "Getting Started" Training
Session leaders: Jenny Noyes from Alpha USA and Edmund Perry, Highlands UMC Alpha leader
- Initiate a process for Kingdom growth that is sustainable, accessible and adaptable.
- Engage people with truth in a way that is both authentic and applicable.
- Develop a community environment that leads people to Jesus and draws them into the church.
- Guide people toward a personal encounter with God.
- Energize their congregations for outreach.
- Create a path to discipleship that raises up new leaders.
This extensive training will include “How to Attract More Guests on Your Course” as well as times of worship, prayer, refreshing, and fellowship. Registration is only $25 in advance and $35 for walk-ins. To pre-register, go to www.alphausa.org/southeast and click on the link for the Birmingham Getting Started Conference on May 8. For more information, contact Vivian Terry (Trinity Homewood Alpha coordinator) at 205.527.6364 or vvterry@bellsouth.net or Elizabeth Nall at enall@northalabamaumc.org .