eVoice 10.03.2012

Oct. 3, 2012

In This Issue:

  • News
  • Advocacy for Social Justice Information
  • 10-Fold
  • Upcoming Events

 

News

Click on headline to read full story.

 

Invitation to attend or view a Service Celebrating the Episcopal Assignment of Bishop Debra Wallace-Padgett

North Alabama United Methodists are invited to a Service Celebrating the Episcopal Assignment of Bishop Debra Wallace-Padgett on Sunday, October 7, 2012, at 5 p.m. at Canterbury UMC in Birmingham. Bishop Wallace-Padgett will preach during this communion service. A reception to greet her and her family will follow. During the service, clergy will process wearing black robes and white stoles. Laity are invited and encouraged to attend. As a way more North Alabama United...

 

 

Lakeview UMC in Tanner receives Charter Church Award

On Sept. 2, 2012, Lakeview UMC in Tanner (Northwest District) received a Charter Church Award. This recognition is for North Alabama churches that can document the congregation was founded before 1870. The award was presented by Mrs. Nell Berry, Chairperson of the North Alabama Conference Commission on Archives and History. Lakeview UMC is a successor to the Limestone African Mission that was founded on October 22, 1845 as part of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. The Rev....

 

 

Pastor Calvin Havens provides house for homeless woman with cancer

 Jessica, a homeless mother of two who has cancer, does not go to Ford's Chapel United Methodist Church in Harvest, Ala. But the church sure came to Jessica, providing a new home and hope. With her 9 and 11-year-old kids in tow, Jessica (who didn't want her last name used) moved in to her new digs Monday with a full heart and a stocked fridge, courtesy of a spiritual community that has kept growing behind her. "It's just sort of blown us out of the water how many...

 

 

Mt. Olive UMC serves community through "Church Without Walls" Sunday

Mt. Olive UMC (Central District) had "Church Without Walls" on Sunday September 9, 2012. During the worship hour, instead of gathering in the sanctuary, the congregation went out into the Mt. Live community and did a variety of acts of service. The acts of service ot the community ranged from going to Walmart and returning carts to the shopping cart bin to picking up trash at a local park to visiting a local nursing home to handing out Bibles in a local neighborhood to...

 

 

Flint Hill UMC honors teachers and school staff and begins new outreach ministries

 In August, as school was about to begin for a new year, volunteers from Flint Hill UMC in Alex City (Southeast District) honored the teachers and staff from nearby Stephens Elementary School by providing a nice meal. Ladies from the church worked to set up tables, decorate and make the meal in an effort to show the teachers and staff how much they are appreciated. In addition, knowing that many teachers have to buy supplies for their students, members of Flint Hill donated two truck...

 

 

Webinars Provide Spiritual Framework for People Working with Older Adults

 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. Each session will be presented by Upper Room and Discipleship Resources authors who are experts in the...

 

 

News from United Methodist News Service

 

 

Resources

Advocacy for Social Justice

The North Alabama Conference Advocacy for Social Justice team has planned new ways to help equip local congregations to work for justice through faith.  Later this month the team will begin a blog with information and resources for local congregations.  They will also email this information to subscribers on the new Advocacy for Social Justice email list.

To subscribe to the email list for these updates and valuable information for your congregation, go to http://www.northalabamaumc.org/site/stayconnected and sign up for "Advocacy for Social Justice" emails.

 

Online 10-Fold event celebrating United Methodist Church in mission expanded for entire month of October

During the month of October, United Methodists are invited to participate in an interactive global gathering that features projects around the world supported by the General Board of Global Ministries and United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR)

Each week will feature a different United Methodist ministry. Through technology such as streaming video, Tweetups, online chats and other media, participants will learn about amazing ministries that are changing people’s lives.  There will also be devotions and worship resources available.

Plus, with just a click of your mouse, you can become an advocate for mission! (Each visitor can trigger a US $1 donation to the week’s project, made by one of 10-Fold’s sponsors, simply by clicking on the Be Counted button.)

Schedule at a glance:
Week 1: (week of Oct. 1) Disaster Relief
Week 2: (week of Oct. 7) Young People in Mission
Week 3: (week of Oct. 14) Mission Initiatives
Week 4: (week of Oct. 21) Missionaries
Week 5: (week of Oct. 28) Fair Trade

10-Fold began as a campaign on October 10, 2010 and lasted for 10 days. Last year organizers saw record success. This year the campaign was expanded, yet simplified, by making it a month-long event that allows participants to visit many times throughout October.

For more information and to participate visit www.10-fold.org. 

 

Special UMVIM Trip: Is Kenya in Your Future?

There is nothing as life-transforming as international mission work. Your gifts and skills in the field of rehabilitation and disability can be a blessing for people around the world. 

A United Methodist mission team from across the US is forming to go to Kenya for 2 ½ weeks to work in the Disabled Community Centre and the Maua Methodist Hospital in Maua, Kenya from July 24 to August 10, 2013. We will be joining a Deaf Ministry mission team that will be working in 2 area schools for children who are Deaf or have a disability. Carol Stevens, who has led 5 other Deaf ministries teams to Kenya and 8 teams to Zimbabwe, will be the national coordinator.

One member of the first team in 1998 was a Deaf woman who also has cerebral palsy. Her greatest gift was her disability as she stood smiling knowingly at the disability worker in Kenya telling a group of parents to feed their disabled children like they feed their able- bodied children and not to starve them. Since that first trip to Kenya the disabled community in Maua has progressed from a small social group with lots of hopes and dreams to a large, organized group with 10 workers with disabilities, a large building and several motorcycles to reach the dispersed community of people with disabilities and their families. 

The team can use people with a variety of disability-related skills and experiences. In addition to physical, occupational, and speech therapists, we welcome special education teachers, rehab nurses, family members, and carpenters or wheelchair mechanics. We hope that pastors and others with disabilities can also take part, but all participants need to be able to walk up a flight of stairs, as there are no ADA-style accommodations.

We will stay in a secure, clean local hotel with buffet meals. We will also go on a 1 ½ day animal safari at Samburu National Reserve. The estimated cost of the trip will be $4000 per person, not including funds for purchasing needed supplies and equipment . 

If you want more information as you prayerfully discern if God is calling you for this mission trip, please send an e-mail to Carol Stevens or Lynn Swedberg  by October 15, 2012 to be included in the planning. Your gifts, your skills, your imagination, and your faith will be expanded as you serve as the hands and heart of Christ.

Submitted by Carol Stevens for THE VOICE, the online newsletter of the UM Task Force on Disability Ministries.  http://www.umdisabilityministries.org/

 

 

Events

Featured Events

Bishop's Installation Service

October 7, 2012
Start Time 5 p.m.
Canterbury UMC
350 Overbrook Road
Mountain Brook, AL 35213

North Alabama United Methodists are invited to a Service Celebrating the Episcopal Assignment of Bishop Debra Wallace-Padgett on Sunday, October 7, 2012, at 5 p.m. at Canterbury UMC in Birmingham. Bishop Wallace-Padgett will preach during this communion service. A reception to greet her and her family will follow. During the service, clergy will process wearing black robes and white stoles.  Laity are invited and encouraged to attend.

As a way more North Alabama United Methodists can be a part of this special time in the life of the Annual Conference, the installation service will also be streamed live online.  To view the service live on Sunday, October 7 go to www.northalabamaumc.org/bishopinstallation  and click the link to the live stream.

 

 

Living Light...the dance of joy

Oct. 9- 10, 2012
Sumatanga
Coordinator: Chrystal Smith,
Coordinator Email: programs@sumatanga.org
(256) 538-9860

Download Brochure

Cost:

  • Full Event - $75/person (Includes overnight lodging at the Retreat Center, Tuesday dinner, Wednesday breakfast and lunch, and program fees.)
  • Tuesday Evening - $25/person (Includes Tuesday dinner and program fees.)
  • Wednesday - $25/person (Includes Wednesday lunch and program fees.)

Event Schedule:

Tuesday, October 9, 2012
2:00pm Registration Begins (Main Lodge Lobby)
4:00pm Opening Session (Green Auditorium)
5:30pm Supper (Hundley Dining Hall)
7:00pm Evening Session (Green Auditorium)
8:30pm Optional Recreation & Fellowship Time (Main Lodge)

Wednesday, October 10, 2012
7:30am Breakfast (Hundley Dining Hall)
8:00am Registration (Main Lobby Lodge)
8:45am Morning Session (Green Auditorium)
10:00am Workshop 1 (Assigned rooms)
11:30am Lunch & Fellowship (Hundley Dining Hall)
1:30pm Workshop 2 (Assigned Rooms)
2:45pm Closing Worship (Green Auditorium)
3:30pm Home

Opportunities for Fun & Fellowship!

Workshop Opportunities:

  • Lifetime Fitness with Barbara Lee
  • Dulcimer Workshop with Paul Owen
  • Faith of the Presidents with Bill Gunn
  • Christians and the Common Good with Oliver Clark
  • Walking the Labyrinth with Kay Mutert
  • Community Outreach with Shulanda Keller

 

 

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.

 

 

Turning Tippers Into Tithers

Oct. 13, 2012

Start Time 8:30

End Time 3:30
Cove at Chase
1635 Winchester Rd, NE
Huntsville,AL 35811
Contact: Lynne Paden
Email: lpaden@northalabamaumc.org
(256) 714-9656

In this Saturday workshop, your pastor and finance team will learn how to treat their current givers as donors and how to add new donors.

Designed for interaction between the pastor and finance leaders, the workshop requires both groups to attend.

This "how to" workshop includes:

  • Current Realities Facing Your Church
  • The Reasons Your Pastor Needs to See the Giving and Finances
  • Your Pastor’s Role in Raising Stewardship Awareness
  • The Mistake of Treating all Donors the Same
  • Strategies that Produce Generous Donors
  • Importance of Giving to Faith Development and Church Leadership

In the process of turning Tippers into Tithers, participants will gain confidence that they can help their congregation grow in their faith through their giving practices.

(Both pastor and finance team members must attend; NO EXCEPTIONS)

Cost is $100 per team. You may pay on-line or check.

 

 

Historical Society Meeting

Start Date 10/13/2012
End Date 10/13/2012
Start Time 9:30 a.m.
Sylacauga First UMC
Coordinator: Rev. Pete West
Coordinator Email: pwest1013@charter.net
(256) 404-5547

At its meeting on Saturday, October 13, 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 our 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.

Dr. Dressler’s story will be told by his son Theo, now living in Jacksonville, FL. Some of his music will be presented by the Sylacauga First United Methodist Church Choir under the direction of Chris Phillips. The history of that local church will be told by Bettye Lessley.

Luncheon reservations may be made by sending a check for $10 per reservation to Karen Brewer, Sylacauga First United Methodist Church, 105 E. Spring Street, Sylacauga, AL 35150. Deadline for reservations is Monday, October 8.

For additional information contact Pete West (256) 404-5547 or pwest1031@charter.net. To get directions to the church call (256)249-0362.

 

 

UMCOR/UMVIM Early Response Training (ERT)

Oct. 20, 2012
Start Time 8:00am
End Time 5:00pm
Asbury UMC
6690 Cahaba Valley Road
Birmingham, AL 35242
Coordinator: Meridee Gibson
Coordinator Email: gibsonme@bellsouth.net

You must click here to complete the registration, or copy and paste this address in your web browser: http://northalabamaumc.org/registrations/register/120

[ERT] Early Response Training is a joint venture between UMVIM and UMCOR to train disaster response sensitive individuals to serve in disaster areas after first responders are allowed to do their jobs in those areas. This training covers pastoral care, tarping, mucking out, and other disaster response skills. Each individual must have a valid background check on file with the North Alabama Conference office and after completion of the training and background check, will be issued an ERT badge valid for three years.

If you have any questions about the contents of this training, please contact Rev. Matt Lacey, Director of Mission and Advocacy at mlacey@northalabamaumc.org

 

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.