MARCH 2008 NEWSLETTER

 

Albemarle District Office of United Methodist Church

403 N. 3rd Street

Albemarle, NC 28001

Ph: 704-983-1104

Fax: 704-986-0857

Email: Sandy albds@vnet.net or Kim khopkins4@ctc.net

http://www.albemarleumc.org/

 

From Your DS

 We missed some of you at yesterday’s clergy meeting at Wingate. Some of you called or emailed with reasons; some who were present made real effort to be so. I’ve had much response from those who were present that it was an uplifting morning together.

Rhonda Hartweg and the Wingate folks made us welcome, and we are grateful to them. Diana Wingeier Rayo and several of her leaders from Centro Cristiano Hosanna, our Hispanic Ministry, inspired us with their plan of discipleship and growth, something we can all learn from. I don’t think she reported that their attendance has now grown to approximately 150 and they have had to begin a second service! God is surely at work in this vital ministry!

I gave reminders of some upcoming events, reviewed a few things I shared with your S/PPRC’s in the recent training events, and I passed out copies of Lovette Weems’ document “Ten Provocative Questions for the United Methodist Church,” which he presented to the bishops and district superintendents at Lake Junaluska in November. Bishop McCleskey ordered enough copies for all our clergy. They were available at the Mission to Ministers last month, and you can pick up a copy at the district office, or find it online at www.churchleadership.com. Weems asks some hard questions, and our bishops are willing to struggle with those. I find that encouraging.

Yesterday, and at our bag lunch meetings several weeks ago, I told the clergy that I want all of you to read Bishop Robert Schnase’s book Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations. Bishop Schnase also made an impressive presentation at the Junaluska event in November, and this book has caught the attention of our denomination. The Publishing House is finding it difficult to print it fast enough. Many entire annual conferences are conducting studies. There’s a website dedicated to it at www.fivepractices.org. I’m asking all clergy to read it by our April bag lunch meetings (dates below in this newsletter), so that we can discuss how we might best use it. The book is very laity-friendly, and there’s some good sermon material.

Bishop Schnase identifies the “five practices” as: radical hospitality, passionate worship, intentional faith development, risk-taking mission and service, and extravagant generosity. The adjectives, he says, are important. In the Introduction he writes:

These words are dangerous, edgy, and provocative. The practices are basic and fundamental to congregational strength, but the adjectives intensify them toward the unexpected and the exemplary. Vibrant, fruitful, growing congregations don’t stop at practicing friendly hospitality, helpful service and mission, or prudent generosity. Their practices are extraordinary, exceptional, thorough, and extreme; they are radical, passionate, intentional, risk-taking, and extravagant. These words draw us in and cause us to ask provocative questions about our own congregational practices. No church that is vibrant, fruitful, and growing performs its ministry exactly as it did in the 1950’s, and no pastor leading such a congregation is practicing ministry as she or he did in the 1970’s or 1980’s. Effective congregations change, improve, learn, and adapt to fulfill their mission, and these words push us to rethink our basic congregational culture, organization, and practice. (p. 9)

As a denomination, we must ask provocative questions. As congregations, we must ask provocative questions. As individuals—clergy and laity—we must ask provocative questions. Or else we will fail to be faithful to the Christ whom we claim to follow. Lent is a time for provocative questions.

Lazarus was called by our Lord from the grave, and out he came, struggling with the grave clothes, but alive! We, each of us, have our own grave clothes, our own tombs. Will we heed the call to come out…to life, to faithfulness, to fruitfulness?

 

Blessings,

Sandy

If you have any prayer concerns that you would like shared in the newsletter,

 Please contact the District Office.

 

Rev. Virginia Herron who is recovering knee replacement surgery.

Rev. Skipper Watwood who has been in the hospital for several days.

Rev. Bob Romanello who is recovering from minor surgery.

 

 

 

Birthdays

Michael Solano

3-2

 

Clyde Penry

3-10

Mark Curtis

3-18

J. David Colson

3-18

Jimmie Furr

3-21

Kristy Burnette

3-22

Britt Hadley

3-28

Ron Setzer

3-29

Marion Clarke

3-29

Randall Blanton

3-30

 

 

 

Anniversaries

Ed & Gini Briggs

3-3

Eddie & Brenda Black

3-8

Jimmie & Barbara Furr

3-14

Skipper & Willie Ruth Watwood, III

3-15

Doris & Jimmy Cornelius

3-20

David & Candace Lawrence

3-20

Tony & Erin Allen

3-22

Rob & June Rollins, Jr.

3-31

 

 

MARCH EVENTS

 

March 2-: ONE GREAT HOUR OF SHARING

One Great Hour of Sharing Sunday is March 2. OGHS makes all of the other UMCOR programs possible because it funds the cost of doing business for UMCOR. Any gifts that are over and above UMCOR's administrative costs go to where they are most needed. Often they support under funded programs.

It's not too late to order your OGHS envelopes, posters, refrigerator magnets and offering boxes. Call 1-888-346-3862 to order and visit UMCOR's OGHS website for more information. Check out this year's worship resources to help you prepare and celebrate this Special Sunday.

 

March 2- Anson Leadership Conference- Training events will include Christ’s Circle, Year 2 “Spiritual Gifts Recognition”; Pastor/Staff-Parish by Sandy Giles

Place: Wadesboro: First UMC   Time 3:00 – 5:00

March 4- District Clergy Meeting at Wingate UMC. Fellowship gathering at 9:30 followed by worship.

 

March 8- Disciple Leader Training at Loves Grove UMC. Funded by Duke Endowment, through Disciple Bible Outreach Ministries

This initiative removes the barriers of cost and inaccessibility of training which have previously kept churches from participating in DISCIPLE.  It is my strong desire to have every church in the Western North Carolina Conference participating in DISCIPLE Bible Study by the end of 2009.  If you do not currently offer DISCIPLE Bible Study, please make every effort to have a representative from your church attend this training.  If you already have a program, this will be an excellent opportunity to train new leaders or revitalize an existing program.

 

 

 

FREE DISCIPLE and RINGS Training
for all clergy and laity in the WNCC and NCC

2008 Events


March 8           Albemarle District - Love's Grove UMC
May 3              Marion District - First UMC, Morganton
May 10            Rocky Mount District - Nashville UMC
May 17            Durham District - McMannen UMC
May 24            Elizabeth City District - First UMC, Elizabeth City

Leader training in all four levels of DISCIPLE Bible Study and the RINGS OF FELLOWSHIP youth study will be provided at these events.  Training begins at 9:00am.   The event is free to all lay and clergy persons in the WNCC and NCC.  Lunch will be provided for $5.00 per person.  Members of non-UMC churches are also welcome to attend for a cost of $25.  You must pre-register for this event. 

*A youth worker breakout session will be held in Sanford from 11:15-3:00 PM for those wanting a more in dept RINGS training.

Register online - www.disciplebibleoutreach.org

Disciple Bible Outreach Ministries of NC, Inc.

336-434-8612

March 15-

Harvest of Blessings:
East - Mar. 15, The Children's Home, Winston-Salem
West - Oct. 4, Morganton - New! Bulletin Insert

Harvest of Blessings (part 1) will take place on March 15, at The Children’s Home, 1001 Reynolda Rd., Winston-Salem. All members of the Western NC Conference and their visitors are invited, but we are especially gearing this event to the eastern-half of the conference. Part 2 will take place Oct. 4, in Morganton.

Request for District and Mission Group Displays (pdf)
Display Commitment Form (pdf)

Vickie Sigmon, director of the Open Arms Ministry in
Winston-Salem, has agreed to be the “overall chairperson”
of the committee. Chairpersons for the auction, food, kits and
more are being established. Eastern and Western Task Forces
are being formed. To help, call Sigmon at 336.724.0850.

The purpose of Harvest of Blessings
is for the people of the WNCC UMC to:

 

Have a hands-on experience, celebrate missions;

 

Provide education about UMC connectional missions;

 

Inspire involvement and provide specifics about individual and church involvement;

 

Equip attendees with info and ideas for their local churches; and,

 

• Provide opportunities for discernment of particular calls to be in mission service, including vocational service.

 

The Harvest of Blessings includes these parts:

 

In-Gathering of Supplies: Individuals and churches will be encouraged to bring supplies for UMCOR Flood Bucket Kits (see inside);

 

Sale/Auction: Churches are asked to be busy making quilts, other items for auctioning for missions;

 

Displays: Mission displays for activities associated with the United Methodist Church will be set up for persons to review;

 

Children’s Activities and Child-care;

 

Food

 

Mission Discernment

 

Worship

 

Music

 

Pastors and mission chairpersons – place this on your church calendar now! Bring yourselves and your church’s gifts!

District Supplies for Harvest of Blessings, March 15

Albemarle

Each church should bring (2) 1-quart bottles of bleach

 

Greensboro

Each church should bring disinfectant and scouring pads

 

High Point

Each church should bring sponges and gloves

 

Lexington

Each church should bring air freshener and scrub brushes

 

Northeast

Each church should bring insect repellant and clothes lines

 

Salisbury

Each church should bring clothes pins and detergent

 

Winston-Salem

Each church should bring trash bags and towels

 

Every Districts

Bring masks, canvas dot gloves, and buckets!

 

HOB West, Oct. 4, in Morganton, will be the
Asheville, Charlotte, Gastonia, Marion,
North Wilkesboro, Statesville, and Waynesville Districts!

 

 

 

 

March 31-April 11- Bishop’s Trip: First Journey of Paul Cruise, itinerary including Greece, Turkey, and Holy land.

 

UPCOMING EVENTS

April 6- Native American Awareness Sunday

April 6, 13, 20- Lay Speaker Training at Central UMC, Albemarle

Times are 2:30 – 5:30 pm Cost of Training $30 per student to cover mailings, books, handouts, and refreshments. Check Payable to Albemarle District UMC. Registrations to be turned back into District Office by March 10th.

A letter and registration forms being mailed out this week.

(Basic Course, Advanced Course-Preaching, Advanced Course-Leading Worship, and Advanced Course-Leading Small Groups).

April 20- Project AGAPE Sunday

April 22- Union Bag Lunch Meeting  (Discussion of Bishop Schnase Book)  Where? TBA

April 23- Anson Bag Lunch Meeting  (Discussion of Bishop Schnase Book)  Where? TBA

April 24- Stanly Bag Lunch Meeting  (Discussion of Bishop Schnase Book)  Where? TBA

May 17- District Clergy Picnic at Oakboro Park

May 18- Peace with Justice Sunday

June 5th thru 8th- Western North Carolina Annual Conference

June 29th- District Clergy Welcome Picnic, Location TBA

Oct 5th- World Communion Sunday

 

 

Stewardship: Living for Giving is a new five-session study on stewardship by Bishop Kenneth Carder, focusing on the biblical and theological basis for the practice of stewardship as a spiritual discipline. This is a great study to use as a part of your fall stewardship campaign or any other time of the year. Each session contains a lesson by Bishop Kenneth Carder, video introduction and application. DVD’s are available for $5 each. Download the free workbook, www.unfoundationwncc.org

 

Coming: Clergy Health Initiative (Sponsored by Duke Endowment)

 

Remember to check out Weekly E News- WNCC

       The District Office will not necessarily repeat what it includes

 

 

 

 

HOME