eVoice 07.11.2012

July 11, 2012

In This Issue:

  • News
  • Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference 2012
  • Christmas Shoe Boxes for children in Honduras
  • Upcoming events

 

News

Click on headline to read full story.

Calera First UMC works toward outreach objective of helping children and families in need

Last month the Shelby County Reporter featured a story on the Feed My Sheep food pantry ministry of Calera First UMC. The food pantry ministry is part of a larger outreach objective the congregation adopted two years ago of “no more needy children” in Calera. The church started working toward this objective by first building relationships with teachers in local schools.  The news article explains, “Teachers were lifted up in prayer and encouraged. They...

 

Hewett Memorial UMC creates a new worship in a wired world experience

Church incorporates technology in new worship experience This article was posted on the web site of the Sand Mountain Reporter on June 15, 2012. Hewett Memorial United Methodist Church normally has two services: a contemporary service and a traditional service. However, churchgoers participated in a new kind of worship experience, called Hewett Live 2.0, Sunday. The event brought everyone together in one service that incorporated use of modern technology in an effort to...

 

Vestavia Hills UMC celebrates ministry of two retirees who have contributed to contemporary worship service

On Sunday, June 10, 2012 Vestavia Hills UMC’s contemporary service, New Traditions celebrated the ministry of Sue Strozier and Mary Ann Harris. These two women have volunteered their time and gifts each week for six years to adorn the altar and worship space for the Sunday morning service. Sue and Mary Ann both are incredibly creative and artistic. Each Sunday the worshipers are greeted with a feast for the eyes, the gospel told through images. Each week they turned a multi-purpose...

 

North Alabama responds to Florida flooding - more cleaning bucket supplies needed

On Friday, June 29, 2012, someone at the UMCOR Sager Brown Depot (the headquarters for UMCOR’s relief-supply operations) contacted the North Alabama Disaster Warehouse in Decatur requesting 300 Cleaning Buckets for the flooded parts of Florida due to Tropical Storm Debby. Volunteers gathered in the extreme heat and loaded the supplies that afternoon to be shipped to Live Oak, Florida.  The supplies arrived on Sunday afternoon. As the shipment began to move south on Friday...

Apply Now for EIST Grants that Support Racial-Ethnic Leadership Programs

When a woman from Ecuador involved in “Sazon para el Alma” had brain surgery, volunteers from the local United Methodist church that hosts the program supported Marianna Tandayamo and her daughter, Jessica, with meals, transportation, prayer, and other support. The program, which means “Seasoning for the Soul” in English, is a project of PlumbLine Fellowship, a multicultural new church start within Narbeth United Methodist Church, located in a suburb of...

 

Discovery UMC helps community say thank you to teachers

Recently Discovery UMC in Hoover (South Central District) helped the community say thank you to its teachers. In May, the church had a booth at “Celebrate Hoover Day.” The booth allowed residents to stop and decorate cards of thanks for the city’s teachers.  Those cards were later attached to water bottles and delivered to the area schools by church volunteers. They estimated more than 1000 participated in this project of appreciation. After the delivery,...

 

Bishop meets with young and new clergy

From maintenance to mission On June 26, Bishop William H. Willimon and several members of the cabinet met with some of the clergy members who entered into ministry and into leadership in the conference within the past eight years. About fifty clergy gathered together at the Conference Center at Birmingham-Southern College and discussed the state of the Annual Conference at the close of Bishop Willimon’s tenure in North Alabama. As the group reflected upon the changes in...

 

News from United Methodist News Service

 

Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference 2012

July 18-20
Lake Junaluska, NC

READ: Bishops to be elected and assigned at SEJ Conference in July

The conference will officially open on Wednesday, July 18, 2012, with worship at 9 a.m. The newly elected Bishops will be consecrated on Friday, July 20, 2012, at 10 a.m.

The SEJ Committee on Episcopacy will host a process to allow delegates to become better acquainted with episcopal nominees on Tuesday, July 17.

Sign up for updates from the Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference 2012 by email.

  • To subscribe: Click here and select 2012 General Conference and SEJ Conference Updates

You can also follow coverage from the North Alabama Conference through social media.

Facebook

Find the North Alabama Conference on Facebook at www.facebook.com/northalabamaumc

Twitter

Follow the North Alabama Conference on Twitter at www.twitter.com/umcna

Join the conversation by using the hastag #SEJUMC in your SEJ Conference related tweets.

Find more information at http://www.sejumc.org/jurisdictional-conference

Watch the live stream

Business session and worship services will be streamed online live.  Go to www.lakejunaluska.com/streaming  to watch!

 

 

Christmas Shoe Boxes for children in Honduras

This year the North Alabama Conference will send nineteen mission teams to Central America to the second poorest nation in our hemisphere -- Honduras.

The Alabama Honduras Medical Education Network (AHMEN), a Conference Advance Special, is sponsoring a container going to Honduras to the churches with whom the mission teams ministered this year.  AHMEN is celebrating its tenth year in the Christmas Shoe Box Ministry.  You and Your Congregation can help. 

All shoe boxes are the same size and furnished by AHMEN.  The cost for shipping is $3.50. 

Christmas Shoe Boxes for Third World Children 2012 (click to download a PDF of instructions)

AHMEN is furnishing the shoe boxes so that each child receives the same size box.   Please try to fill each shoe box.  Please do not over fill a box as this can hamper shipment! 

Printed on the boxed are the manifest form, please fill out with a Sharpie magic marker indicating whether it is for a boy or girl and their age.  It needs to list what you have in the box.  In addition the Customs Declaration form that needs to be filled out. 

Once the box has been filled, place $3.50 in an envelope and tape it to the shoe box OR send one check for the whole group that should be made payable to AHMEN.  (Alabama Honduras Medical Education Network.)  $1.75 of this amount helps get the shipment of boxes to the missionary in Honduras.  The other $1.75 helps the missionary pay the cost of getting the boxes distributed throughout Honduras.


Suggested  Gifts  for  Honduras  Shoe  Boxes

  • Hot Wheels Cars   
  • Children’s Meals Prize Toys
  • Small Dolls    
  • Marbles (no more than 5/baggie)
  • Small balls    
  • Wash Cloth
  • Soap          
  • **  Lotion
  • **  Shampoo    
  • Toothbrush & toothpaste
  • Comb and Brush   
  • Small Hand Mirror
  • 1 pair Flip Flops (Each box needs one pair)
  • 1 pair Socks for Sunday
  • Underwear (underpants & t-shirt)
  • Shorts & tee-shirts (boys & girls) 
  • Dresses
  • Barrettes, ribbons, bows, ponytail holders, etc. 
  • **  Hard candy, bubble gum, sucker (All candy MUST be in a zip lock bag!) 
  • School Supplies:  Pencils (limit 4), paper, crayons, colored pencils, small pencil sharpeners, etc.

All liquids should be in a zip lock bag. Items marked with ** MUST be in a separate zip lock bag

DEADLINE to have shoeboxes at the Decatur Disaster Warehouse (3220 Hwy 31 South, Building F, Decatur, AL 35603) is October 8, 2012. This will allow time for the boxes to be cased, manifested, shipped, clear customs and be distributed to children throughout Honduras for Christmas.

For more information contact Ray Crump at RayLCr@aol.com  or call (256) 642-1759.
 

 

Events

Featured Events

For information about Summer camps at Sumatanga go to http://sumatanga.org/SummerCamp.aspx

 

Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference

July 18-20, 2012
Lake Junaluska, NC

A Jurisdictional Conference happens every 4 years primarily to elect and assign Bishops.

The conference also has the powers and duties:

  • To promote the evangelistic, educational, missionary and benevolent interests of the church and to provide for interests and institutions within their boundaries;
  • To establish and constitute jurisdictional conference boards as auxiliaries to the general boards of the church;
  • To determine the boundaries of Annual Conferences;
  • To make rules and regulations for the administration of the church's work within the Jurisdiction;
  • To appoint a committee on appeals.

For more information visit http://www.sejumc.org/jurisdictional-conference/

 

 

Children's One Day Mission Event

July 24, 2012
Sumatanga
Coordinator: Donna Glenn
Email: dhglenn@centurytel.net

Download Registration Form

North Alabama Conference Cooperative School of Christian Mission Children’s One Day Mission Event

This one day event is designed to introduce children entering 1st grade through 8th grade to needs of mission and how they can be a part of meeting that need.

2012 Study
The Girl Under the Bridge:Stories of Poverty and Hope for Children

Registration/Sign In: 9:00 – 10:00 AM
Event: 10:00 AM - 3:30 PM

Cost per child: $15 includes lunch, snacks, and all supplies.

Each child should bring one Non-perishable item for hands-on mission

There will be study, crafts, music, and other fun activities to fill the day. We strive to give the children an awareness of missions at home and around the world, and how they can fit into that ministry.

In order that we meet safety standards we ask that there be one adult for each 5 children. There is no activity fee for adults but we do ask for $5 for lunch. Babysitting will be available for younger children upon request.

 

 

Children's Mission Camp

Start Date 7/27/2012
End Date 7/29/2012
Sumatanga
Coordinator: Tanya Richards
Coordinator Email: tjr515@yahoo.com

Download Registration Form

North Alabama Conference Cooperative School of Christian Mission
Children’s Mission Camp

At Children’s Mission Camp 1st – 9th graders will participate in the United Methodist Women’s nationally endorsed children’s curriculum and this year’s study is The Girl Under the Bridge: Stories of Poverty and Hope for Children.

In addition the children will be able to take advantage of all that Camp Sumatanga has to offer: swimming, hiking, crafts, singing and learning about nature. Experienced counselors, who love children, lead the camp and are with the children at all times.

Registration begins at 1:00 PM, Thursday, July 26.
Camp will end after lunch on Sunday, July 29.

The schedule consists of class time, crafts, recreation, theme related activities, and worship. There are also special events such as campfires, marshmallows, movies, and games.

Space is limited to 50 children. 1st – 3rd graders will room together, 4th – 6th graders will room together and 7th ~ 9th graders will room together.

Cost and Scholarship Information:

  • $175 per child registered prior to July 1
  • $195 per child registered July 1- July 15
  • After July 15 cost is $225 per child.
  • There is also a multi-child discount:
    $10.00 off for 2 children Additional $10.00 off for 3rd child.

Many churches offer full or partial scholarships for summer camp; we also have scholarships provided for the camp thru July 15 by United Methodist Women and the North Alabama Conference. Please don’t let the cost stop your child from participating.

Payment must be included with the application form. Health forms and a checklist for what to bring will be sent to you with your confirmation.

 

 

Global Leadership Summit

August 9-10, 2012
Christ Church United Methodist
5091 Caldwell Mill Road
Birmingham,AL 35242
Coordinator: Willow Creek Association
(205) 991-5065

Christ Church United Methodist is the Birmingham regional host site for the Global Leadership Summit on August 9--10, 2012. This is Willow Creek Association’s annual world-class leadership event broadcast from the Willow Creek campus near Chicago. As a host site for this event, we truly believe the Summit to be one of the most accessible and affordable opportunities for leadership development available anywhere.

As each local church and our annual conference engage in the priority of developing Effective Leadership for the 21st Century, the Global Leadership Summit offers a high caliber lineup for equipping and developing high impact leaders. To attend this two day event, a participant will usually pay $249.00. However.........

All United Methodist Churches in the North Alabama Conference may attend the Birmingham host site for a special discount rate of $209.00 per individual. Go to the Willow Creek's Global Leadership Summit registration site at www.willowcreek.com/events/leadership/reg1.asp?event_id=EV-LSS1208-MAIN-245 After arriving at the site, plug in the code TGLS12DAS in order to get the discount.

 

 

African-American Women's Leadership Conference

August 23-25, 2012
Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center
Lake Junaluska,North Carolina
Coordinator: Rev. Carl Arrington, Director African-American Ministries
Coordinator Email: carrington@lakejunaluska.com
(828) 454-6739

The Strong Black Woman: REjoicing Together in God's Abundant Grace

African-American Women's Leadership Conference, August 23-25, 2012, Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center --

The women's leadership conference is open to all women - lay and clergy, from young adult to the young-at-heart and beyond. It will be from the unique perspective of what it means to live faithfully as Christians from an African-American female perspective.

Leadership includes: Dr. Sheron Patterson, Rev. Candace Lewis, Dr. Bernice Williams Kirkland, and Lucinda Laws, Kendra Ross, and Christal Brown-Gibson

Early registration: $99; Registration after June 30: $119; 1.3 CEU: $10

Check the website at www.lakejunaluska.com/african-american-women for more information.

 

 

Youth Ministry Bread & Butter Training

August 25, 2012
Trinity UMC
1400 Oxmoor Rd
Birmingham,Al 35209
Coordinator: Clay Farrington
Coordinator Email: youth@caleraumc.com
(205) 229-8624

Join us this August as we offer an outstanding array of seminars that help you make youth ministry as easy as apple pie. With so many students filling up on ministry experiences around the globe it can be hard to stay current. But we want to show you how to make youth ministry your bread and butter before you become toast.

Registration Cost:

  • Early Bird $15
  • $20 Regular Price & $10 for Students
  • 1 free registration with 4 paid adults

 

 

Conference Calendar

Click event name to read full event details on the Conference Calendar.

 

Local Church Events and Celebrations

Click here to see a listing of upcoming special events and celebrations at local North Alabama United Methodist Churches.

Click here to submit your events.