eVoice 09.19.2012

Sept. 19, 2012

In This Issue:

  • News
  • Magic City Miracle
  • Mission Grants Information
  • Upcoming Events

 

News

Click on headline to read full story.

 

Ethnic Local Church Grant deadline is October 1

Each year North Alabama Conference congregations have two opportunities to apply for grant monies from the Conference to help them strengthen programming and outreach ministries to ethnic minorities. The next deadline for the Ethnic Local Church Grant applications is October 1. The Ethnic Local Church Grants are awarded by the Ethnic Local Church Concerns (ELCC) Team of the North Alabama Conference. This is a ministry team of the Office of Connectional Ministries, responsible...

 

 

 

North Alabama Historical Society to remember prominent Church Musician

At its meeting on Saturday, October 13,2012, the North Alabama Conference Historical Society will honor the memory of Dr. John Dressler, a prominent secular and church musician who for a time served in the North Alabama Conference. The meeting will be held at Sylacauga First United Methodist Church from 9: 30 AM through lunch that day. Reservations for lunch at the church should be made in advance. Dressler lived in Vienna when the Nazis annexed Austria in 1938. In 1941, he was drafted...

 

 

Calera First partners with other churches for Prayer in the Park to kick off new school year

On Sunday August 19, 2012, several hundred Calera families kicked off the new school year with the 2nd annual Prayer in the Park at Ricky M. Cairns Football Field. Prayer in the Park is a community-wide praise and worship service coordinated by several local churches. The event started as a back-to-school blessing of the backpacks service at Calera First United Methodist Church. Last year, other Calera churches joined in and opened the event up for the whole...

 

 

White House highlights Rev. Sally Allocca as a "Champion of Change" for strengthening food security

WASHINGTON, DC – On Thursday, September 6, 2012, the White House welcomed 11 Champions of Change who have committed themselves to Strengthening Food Security in the United States and around the world. These individuals know that hunger is an issue that touches the lives of people all around us. North Alabama’s Rev. Sally Allocca was among those recognized. She is the pastor of East Lake UMC and the founder and Executive Director of Promoting Empowerment and Enrichment...

 

 

News from United Methodist News Service

 

Resources

 The Magic City Miracle Needs You!

 

We Need Your Help to Make Some Magic!

On Sunday afternoon, September 30th, several Birmingham area churches will be leading a city-wide day of public service. In a first of its kind partnership of city hall, local businesses, non-profits and churches, approximately 1000-1200 volunteers will fan out to 70+ sites around the city for an afternoon of service. From tornado relief to feeding the homeless to repairing the homes of impoverished seniors, it is sure to be a day rich in the spirit and example of Jesus Christ. Please help us make it a success for those we serve and those we might draw to Christ through this campaign of compassion. Here is how you can help...

  1. Go to www.MagicCityMiracle.org to get involved. Register to volunteer that afternoon, and please ask you parishioners to do the same! We've done all the work setting it up, so all you need to do is register and show up!
  2. Provide your church van/bus for one day. We need 20 churches to send us a bus or van with a driver just for that day. This alone would be a great help.
  3. Contact Rev. Wade Griffith to become an official partner in the project. (wade@libertycrossingsumc.org)

Due to the heavy involvement of local TV and radio stations, we believe this day will show the community a different side of the church as we bring all segments of the city together in service to "the least of these."

We hope you will find a way to get involved!

 

Mission Grant deadline is Sept. 30

Does your mission project touch lives for Jesus Christ? Are you partnering with local United Methodist Churches? Is this ministry empowering the people in the pews to reach out to the needy in our communities, across Alabama and around the world? These are very important questions for the Servants Like Jesus Team. We want every local church to be challenged and equipped to grow more disciples of Jesus Christ by taking risks and changing lives. You are a vital part of that connection! We support efforts that encourage church members to get out into the world and make a difference. Our limited resources are available through the grant process to those who engage in mission and outreach projects that are advancing this goal.

We are especially looking for opportunities to provide “seed money” for new mission projects or “matching grants” towards continuing projects. For example, we might offer matching support towards an amount already being provided by a local church for your ministry. This type of grant helps to foster partnerships and provide incentive for projects connecting the local church, district ministry teams and the North Alabama Conference with mission agencies and various outreach ministries. Our local churches often remind us that they want to be involved in a hands-on-way in projects that directly serve others.

The Servants Like Jesus budget is aligned with specific mission goals of the North Alabama Conference of the United Methodist Church. New and emerging ministries as well as existing ministries specifically engaged in mission and outreach managed by mission agencies, Cooperative Parishes, Advance Specials and other affiliated mission programs are invited to apply for funding.

The Servants Like Jesus team seeks to support those programs that are partnering with United Methodist Churches to make disciples for Jesus Christ across the conference and around the world.

Deadline for Submitting Grant Application: Sept. 30 2012

Click here for more information and for application.
 

 

Events

Featured Events

Urban Ministry Table of Hope Fundraiser

Sept. 20, 2012
Start Time 6 p.m.
End Time 8 p.m.
Vestavia Hills UMC
2061 Kentucky Avenue
Vestavia Hills, AL
Coordinator: Urban Ministry
Email: info@urban-ministry.org
(205) 781-0517

Please join Urban Ministry on Thursday, September 20 for Table of Hope, an annual celebration of our work. Since 1976, we have relied upon your generous support to serve Birmingham with programs of compassion and wholeness. Last year, we served 7,000 people, and this year, we have continued to grow our services in the face of increasing community needs.

This year’s celebration will feature a silent auction, beginning at 6 p.m., followed by a gourmet dinner by Chef Charlie Gagne and entertainment by the Birmingham Heritage Jazz Combo. The evening will also include updates on programs including WE Community Gardens, Urban Kids, Homelessness Prevention, and the Joe Rush Center for Urban Mission.

Tickets are $125 each, and table sponsorships are $1000. Tickets may be reserved by calling 781-0517 or emailing info@urban-ministry.org.

 

 

Scrap, Pray, Love Retreat

Sept. 28-30, 2012
Sumatanga Camp & Conference Center
3616 Sumatanga Road
Gallant,Alabama 35972
Coordinator: Chrystal Smith
Coordinator Email: programs@sumatanga.org
256-538-9860, ext. 1301
http://www.sumatanga.org/Home/scrap_pray_love.aspx

Join us for a weekend of worship, fellowship, and cropping, preserving memories and creating new ones, surrounded by the beauty of Sumatanga. For details and registration information, visit our website.

 

 

Gathering of Orders and Fellowship of Local Pastors and Associate Members

Oct. 1-3, 2012
Start time:5 p.m. on Monday
End time: noon on Wednesday
Camp Sumatanga
3616 Sumatanga Road
Gallant,AL
Contact:Cindi Patsios
Email:cpatsios@northalabamaumc.org
(205) 226-7970

Preaching in the Wesleyan Spirit
featuring Eugene Lowry and Tex Sample

Clergy, it is time to register for the Gathering of the Orders and Fellowship of Local Pastors and Associate Members. It will be held at Camp Sumatanga on October 1 – 3, 2012. Our leaders for the Gathering are Eugene Lowry and Tex Sample. Bishop Wallace-Padgett will be with us at the retreat also. Room and meals will be reserved on a first come basis when registration and payment is received.

If you are registering and paying by mail, make your check payable to North Alabama Conference and mail to:
Office of Ordained Ministry
898 Arkadelphia Road
Birmingham, AL 35204

 

 

 

Bishop Installation Service

October 7, 2012
Start Time 5 p.m.
Canterbury UMC
350 Overbrook Road
Mountain Brook, AL 352123

North Alabama will celebrate the Installation of Bishop Debbie Wallace-Padgett. A Reception will follow the Installation Service.

Clergy should arrive at 4 p.m. and will process wearing black robes and white stoles.

Live streaming of the event will be available online.

 

 

ARMS Annual Fall Meeting

October 9, 2012
Start Time 10:00 AM
End Time 1:00 PM
Camp Sumatanga
Coordinator: Regina Ergle
Coordinator Email: rergle@northalabamaumc.org
(205) 226-7968

The meeting of the ARMS (Association of Retired Ministers and Spouses) Group for the Fall Gathering. It is a time of fellowship for the retired clergy and spouse community.

 

 

Webinar: Aging as Personal Journey

October 9, 2012
Start Time 11:30 a.m. CDT
End Time 12:30 p.m. CDT
Coordinator: The Upper Room, Sharon Conley
Coordinator Email: sconley@GBOD.org
(615) 340-7525 

Clergy, laity and professionals seeking a spiritual framework for their work with older adults will benefit from Faith and Aging, a new webinar series from The Upper Room beginning in October.

Scheduled on four successive Tuesdays beginning Oct. 9, the series will be hosted by Jerry Haas, spiritual director for The Upper Room, a division of the General Board of Discipleship.

The series is designed for clergy or laity designing older adult ministries in local churches, professionals working with an older adult population in any field and individuals seeking a view of aging that is rooted in the Christian faith.

Each session will be webcast live from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (Central Daylight Saving Time) and will focus on these unique aspects of the aging process:

  • “Aging as Personal Journey,” presented on Oct 9 by Missy Buchanan, author of Don’t Write My Obituary Just Yet
  • “Aging and Life's Transitions,” presented on Oct. 16 by Dan Moseley, author of Lose, Love, Live
  • “Aging as Spiritual Journey,” co-presented on Oct. 23 by Richard Morgan and Jane Thibault, authors of Pilgrimage into the Last Third of Life
  • “Aging and Ministry to the Church,” presented on Oct. 30 by Richard Gentzler, author of Aging and Ministry in the 21st Century

Registration for a single webinar session is $14.95, or the cost for all four sessions is $49.95. Recorded versions of the webinars will be available after the live events at the same rate.

High-speed internet access is required for the live events.

Registration is limited. For more information about the webinar series or to register, go to www.upperroom.org/events/59. Or contact Sharon Conley at Upper Room Ministries by phone at (615) 340-7525 or by email at sconley@GBOD.org.

 

 

Clergy Spouse Retreat 2012

Oct. 19-20, 2012
Camp Sumatanga
Gallant, AL
Coordinator: Ann Cohen
Coordinator Email: ann508@comcast.net
Phone: (256) 508-9097

The 2012 Clergy Spouse Retreat will be October 19-20 at Camp Sumatanga.

The theme this year is "Similar Yet Different" based on 1 Corinthians 12.

This annual retreat for spouses of North Alabama Conference clergy features times of worship, fun activities, and fellowship. This year's retreat features entertainment by Christian Comic Bone Hampton. Worship will be led by Rev. Scott and Donna Thackerson and Revs. Dorothy Ann and Fred Webster.

Cost:

All prices are per person and include lodging and meals. Rooms will be at the Retreat Center.

  • Single Room ($96)
  • Double Room ($65)
  • Triple Room ($59)
  • Quad Room ($56)

All are welcome to participate in any activities offered. If you would like to make an additional donation to help cover the cost of this retreat, please add it to your registration total. $10 is welcome, but any amount is appreciated.

For full schedule download the brochure.

Register online by clicking the button below OR download and print the brochure to mail in your registration.

Download Brochure

 

 

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.