eVoice 10.31.2012

Oct. 31, 2012

In This Issue:

  • News
  • UMCOR information
  • Upcoming Events

 

News

Click on headline to read full story.

 

Judicial Council upholds security of appointment

ELK GROVE VILLAGE, Ill. (UMNS) — The top court of The United Methodist Church has upheld church rules that ensure security of appointment for elders and associate clergy members, striking down legislation passed by the denomination’s lawmaking assembly last spring. The church’s General Conference, meeting in Tampa, Fla., had approved on May 1 a much-debated piece of legislation that would have deleted language in the church’s Book of Discipline ensuring security...

 

 

Conference representatives present gift to BSC

A sunny fall afternoon was the perfect time to pay a visit to the Office of the President of Birmingham-Southern College, especially with a check for $16,000 in hand. Dr. Gloria Holt and Dr. Neal Berte, representing the Committee on Episcopacy of the North Alabama Conference, were delighted to visit Gen. Charles Krulak last week to make the presentation on behalf of the entire Conference. North Alabama churches, districts, and individuals generously contributed to a fund...

 

 

 

John Dressler Children Present Program for the NAC Historical Society

The North Alabama Conference Historical Society held its fall meeting on October 13 at Sylacauga First UMC. A presentation of the history of the church was given by church historian Bettye Lessley, and the life story of Johannes "John" Dressler was given by his three children with the help of the Sylacauga Church Choir, under the direction of Chris Phillips. Theo Dressler began with an introduction to his father's birth and boyhood until the time his...

 

 

 

Pumpkin Patch raises funds, increases visibility at Saint Mark UMC

 

There's nothing like 3,000 pumpkins to get your church noticed. Saint Mark UMC in Birmingham received the huge shipment for their annual fundraiser, the Pumpkin Patch, earlier this month. Proceeds benefit the church's Mexico Mission Team, which travels each year to build two or three houses and teach Bible study to the children of Rio Bravo. According to Saint Mark member John Gaston, who has been leading the trip for 12 years, the money raised will be used for supplies...

 

 

 

Highlands UMC in Huntsville celebrates Homecoming Sunday

Thanks Be to God! Highlands UMC's Homecoming was truly a wonderful day. Around 150 friends and church members attended. One special guest was charter member Jewell Long Wonders. Former pastor Rev. Rod Morgan preached, and brought Andrea and Corey along. Several more former pastors were there with family members, including Bill and Sue Saxon, Ira and Nedra Laney with Jessica, Sudie and family, Marjorie Palmer, Donna Risberg Johnson,...

 

 

 

Vincent UMC increases missional work

Other than joint UMW projects with Harpersville UMC, Vincent First UMC had not adopted any mission projects in the last few years. Most mission emphasis had been reserved for individuals in need in or around the Vincent community. October 2012 has been different. On October 7, VUMC joined AHMEN in the Christmas Shoebox Ministry to the children of Honduras.  Spurred and coached by Ivan, Joy and Pam Greene of Wilsonville UMC, the congregation packed 40 boxes to ship to Honduras. Mr....

 

 

 

Taking it to the Streets: Pastors combine efforts to reverse decline

How do you turn around a declining church? That is the great challenge facing many congregations here in the North Alabama Conference. To turn a church around, the congregation must first be turned from "inward" on themselves to "outward" into the community. Call it out-of-the-box, unorthodox, unconventional, or simply "Rethink Church," but some believe we must stop going to church and start being the church. On September 30, Haven Memorial...

 

 

News from United Methodist News Service

 

 

Resources

 

The United Methodist Church is in action responding to Hurricane Sandy. Our response effort to this disaster will continue for a long time.

Support United Methodist efforts to help alleviate suffering through UMCOR. Every time you give to a designated emergency or program 100% of your gift supports the intended need. UMCOR does not use any of your designated gifts for administrative or home office costs-they are covered by other funding channels (such as the One Great Hour of Sharing Special Offering each year.)

To Give for response efforts for Hurrican Sandy

Write the Hurricanes 2012 - Advance # 3021787 on your offering in the memo line of your check. 

By Offering - For local church and Annual Conference credit, put your gift in the offering plate on Sunday. Local Churches can then send the funds to the Annual Conference Treasurer's Office.

By Check - Make your check to UMCOR and send to: UMCOR, PO Box 9068, New York, NY 10087

By Credit Card - Call toll-free (800) 554-8583 or Give online at www.methodistrelief.org

 

You can also text the word RESPONSE to 80888 to give an immediate $10 donation.

 

Events

Featured Events

Worship Workshop: Plan, Enhance, and Experience Worship of Meaning and Power

Nov. 3, 2012
Start Time 9:00 a.m.
End Time 12:00 noon
Sylacauga First UMC
105 East Spring Street
Sylacauga,AL 35150
Coordinator: Debby Webb
Coordinator Email: dwebb@northalabamaumc.org
(256) 409-9210

Rev. Barbara Day Miller, Associate Dean of Worship and Music at Candler, will lead a workshop geared toward enhancing the experience of congregants as they seek to worship Christ. Pastors, worship teams and leaders of churches are invided to participate in this practical training event. Rev. Day Miller also teaches practical liturgics and directs the Candler Singer. She is the author of Encounters with the Holy:A Conversational Model for Worship Planning (Alban Institute, 2010) and The New Pastor's Guide to Leading Worship (Abingdon Press, 2005)

There is no cost for this event, but please let us know if you are going to attend and how many people you are bringing with you.

 

 

Soul Keeping Silent Retreat

Nov. 7-9, 2012
Start Time 6:00 p.m.
End Time 1:00 p.m.
Sumatanga Camp & Conference Center
3616 Sumatanga Road
Gallant,AL 35972
Contact: Chrystal Smith
Coordinator Email: programs@sumatanga.org
256-538-9860

Soul Keeping is a 48 hour experience of silence for rest and renewal; an extended conversation with God. Designed to help you slow down, step away from the business and the noise, and be truly present in our lives. Soul Keeping offers participants a chance for physical and spiritual renewal through stillness and silence, guided prayer experiences, healing movement exercises, hiking, hammocking, reading, journaling, and great food.

More information at www.sumatanga.org

 

 

Exploring How Disciples Are Transformed - A Day with Dr. Ron Martoia

Nov. 15, 2012
Start Time 9:30 a.m.
End Time 3:30 p.m.
CrossWinds UMC
8089 Wall Triana Hwy
Harvest,AL 35749

Download Brochure

WE INVITE YOU TO AN EVENT THAT WILL CHANGE THE  WAY YOU DO MINISTRY FOREVER!  From Information  transmission to  transformation  Is  your  church  an  information  transmission  expert  or  a  transformational  specialist?  Many  of  us  in  church  ministry  realize  there  is  lot  of  information  being  dispensed;  sermons,  bible  studies,  small  groups,  prayer  meetings,  personal  devotions,  podcasts  and  lots  more.  The  question  is  this;  for  all  the  information  we  give  out  how  much  growth  is  really  experienced?  Are  disciples  really  being  formed?  Is  the  world  really  being  transformed?  The  mission  statement  of  the  United  Methodist  Church  has  the  word  “transformation”  in  it.  But  what  exactly  is  that?  We  want  to  invite  you  to  a  one  day  event  that  has  the  potential  to  change  the  way  to  do  ministry  forever.

Our Facilitator
Dr. Ron Martoia is a transformational architect. His passion is helping people, and the organisms they serve, design, build and experience revolutionary change. Over the last 10 years Ron has spoken to over 30,000 leaders in conference settings from Catalyst to Willow Creek. His area of expertise is spiritual formation and cultural trends and how to respond to them so the church can experience greater effectiveness.

Registration Details:

When?
November  15,  2012

Where? 
Crosswinds  Church, 8089  Wall  Triana  Hwy  Harvest,  AL  35749

What  time? 
9.30  registration
10.00-3.30 conference   (lunch  is  included)

Who? 
Pastors,  staff  and  key  laypeople.  That  is  what  it  will  take  to  create  a  revolution  of  transformation...the  more  people  the  more  conversation  to  take  back  to  your  church

Cost? 
Early  Bird  Special  $69 /  per  person  up  until  November  2.
After  November  2  $89 / person
Team  discount  early  bird  by  Nov  2,  four  people  from  the  same  church  $250…  each  additional  $60/person

Registration  CLOSES  NOVEMBER  14th

Payment:
Payment is by Paypal. Make payment to account name velocitycultureresources@gmail.com
Please note in the payment the name(s) for the registration.

 

 

from txt 2 speech

Nov. 29 - Dec. 1, 2012
Trevecca Nazarene University
Nashville,TN
Coordinator: Center for Youth Ministry Training

Proclaiming scripture to youth in a digital age.

The Center for Youth Ministry Training (CYMT) is hosting a conference at the end of November called Text 2 Speech which is about bringing the gospel to life in a digital age particularly so that youth and young adults can better hear it and accept it.

Featured speakers - Kenda Creasy Dean, Mike King, Dave Ward, and Olu Brown

$85 general admission before October 25th - $105 after October 25th.

Register at txt2speech.org

Download brochure.

 

 

Lake Junaluska Multicultural Conference: Creating a Church for All People

Nov. 29- Dec. 1, 2012
Lake Junaluska
North Carolina
Coordinator: The Rev. Dr. Carl Arrington
Coordinator Email: carrington@lakejunaluska.com
(828) 454-6697

Register today at www.lakejunaluska.com/multicultural

Scholarships available soon. Contact 828.454.6697 for more information.

The 2012 Multicultural Conference will explore the changing racial, ethnic and cultural demographics of our country that are moving towards a population that is majority racial-ethnic. In light of this fast-approaching demographic change, how do we create a church in which all people feel welcome? This conference will provide thought-provoking cultural competency training for clergy and laity, enhancing their ability to serve as leaders within diverse churches and changing communities.

Participants will experience this training through a mixture of plenary sessions, workshops, powerful and inspiring worship services and motivating speakers, all of which will empower the participants to embrace the principles learned at the conferences and put them into action in their local churches and communities, thereby "Creating a Church for All People."

Leadership includes:

  • Bishop Melvin Talbert
  • Bishop Linda Lee
  • Bill Cruse
  • Others to be announced

 

Contagious!

Jan. 25-26,2013
Start Time 6 p.m.
End Time 4:30 p.m.
Gardendale-Mt. Vernon UMC
805 Crest Drive
Gardendale,AL 35071
Coordinator: Sheila Freeman
Coordinator Email: sheila@fumcgadsden.org
(256) 490-5018

Contagious is an event designed for children's leaders and volunteers in churches of any size and any denomination. Bring your children's ministry team to join in team building, networking, worship, breakout sessions of your choice, VBS curriculum preview from at least two different companies, and much more.

Contagious 2013 is designed with the bi-vocational and volunteer children’s minister in mind. The schedule begins on Friday evening and ends early enough Saturday to get you home before bedtime. However, if you want even more, there are two Early-bird workshops this year. These workshops are free if you register before November 15. After that date, you can still attend for a fee of $20 each.

For a schedule and detailed event information, click here.

Registration Cost & Dates:

  • $49 for first registrant (June 1-Sept. 15)
  • $69 for first registrant (Sept. 16-Nov. 15)
  • $89 for first registrant (after Nov. 15)

All other participants from the same church will be only $10 each.

 

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.