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HAPPY THANKSGIVING FROM THE DISTRICT OFFICE Evening at the Barn Dinner Theatre & Clergy Dues The District Clergy Officers are planning a fun evening out for clergy and their spouses (dates and/or significant others) at the Barn Dinner Theatre in Greensboro on February 20, 2009. We have made reservations to see the musical comedy, "Church Basement Ladies." The following is a description of the musical: The church basement kitchen throughout much of America is often the heart and soul of any church. Like any great kitchen, problems are solved here as well. We see them handle a Lutefisk Dinner, a funeral, an Easter Fund Raiser, and of course, a wedding. They stave off potential disasters, have fun, share and debate recipes, instruct the young, and keep the pastor on due course. The dinner begins at 6pm with the play to follow. For those who make reservations, I'll forward directions, etc. later. District and Clergy funds will cover the cost of clergy tickets. Clergy will need to pay for your spouse/date/significant other!! ($38 for dinner and the show) We do need your reservations as soon as possible so that we can make sure we have enough seats. Please let me know if you will be attending and how many will be in your party. Then send your payment for your guest(s) to Lisa at the District Office ($38/ticket). I think it will be just what we all need after Advent, Christmas, and Year-End Reports. On another note: I want to remind everyone that clergy dues are $10 for the 2008-2009 Conference year. I'll be at the District Clergy meeting on November 25 and will be glad to take your cash or check at that time. Blessings to you all on this beautiful fall day! Amy Coles The Next Step When I served in the local church, I came to understand the cycle and the season of the local Church. As United Methodists, we arrive at our appointment in the summer. Summer is a time of getting to know a new congregation, and a new place of service. Then come fall. It is time to prepare for Charge Conference and to do Charge Conference. Late fall, is Advent. It is time to prepare for the birth of the Christ-child. Next, comes winter. It is celebrating Christmas, and recalling Emmanuel, God is with us. It is the time to do the ministry and to prepare for Lent. Lent comes with Ash Wednesday, and it is time to prepare for the Holy Week, Mandy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and Easter Sunday. We then prepare for Pentecost and we move into the summer, and we begin again. I am attempting to acclimate myself with the seasons within the District. We have made it through the time of introductions and welcome which the summer brought. We have made it through the time of fall and Charge Conference, and we are moving into the season of Evaluation, and Consultation which the winter will bring. Camp Guilrock 531 Beville Road Reidsville, NC 27320 In a world of ever shrinking natural spaces, it is important to leave our children and generations to come, a quiet, peaceful place where folks can grow in faith and explore this beautiful earth that God gave us. GuilRock United Methodist Camp is such a place. It is an outdoor Christian ministry camp owned by the Greensboro and Northeast Districts of the United Methodist Church and operated by a Board of Directors consisting of pastors and members of churches in both districts. The camp has 230 acres of wooded land that includes a small pool, baseball field, lodges, pavilions, trails, lakes and camp sites. The camp was developed in 1970 and is classified as a non-profit corporation. Funding for the camp and its director, Mark Christy, is from churches in the districts that choose it as an outreach ministry. Unfortunately, that giving level has diminished in the last three years. Individual and group donors also help with funding. The Board of Directors diligently and constantly is searching for gifts to the camp. In the past year over 6000 people used the facility. They came as boy scouts, fishermen, campers, churches, family reunions, conservationists, work teams, day care providers, swimmers, etc. A camp that has survived since 1970 needs your support and gifts. The pool which is used sometimes 10-12 hours per summer day needs $38,000 of renovations immediately to make it last many more years and most importantly-pass the inspection next spring. Toilets and sinks are being replaced in the lodges, bathhouse, and rest rooms. The director’s home has been repaired and the kitchen updated. A dream and vision of the board is to enclose the Wesley Pavilion, add a kitchen and rest rooms so that it can be used year round and offer a dining facility for Carolina Cross Connection and others in the future. So you see our needs are great. Our funds are not so great. We seek your help and support. Gifts of money from church groups or individuals would be so deeply appreciated. If every church would contribute at least $1000.00 towards the pool renovations it would help tremendously to defray the cost. Please pray together with your group and individually and seek God’s guidance in your decision to help this place in His creation. This is your camp. Come visit this natural place, walk the trails, sit at the outdoor worship area, stroll the prayer path, enjoy a campfire, catch a fish in the lake and you will see that it is a place to discover creation, deepen your faith, and be thankful. In Christ,
Mayodan UMW Cookbooks Available The Mayodan United Methodist Women have a new cookbook for sale. "Recipes and Remembrances" includes recipes from present members and friends as well as many good cooks who have passed on. There is also a section of recipes by current church kids called "In a Child's Own Words." The cookbooks are hardcover and include a removable book stand. Price is $15.00. Cookbooks can be purchased at any of the following locations: Mountain Side Restaurant, Creative Concepts, Bookkeeping Plus, House of Stars, The Northeast District Office, and the Mayodan United Methodist Church office (Tuesdays - Thursdays from 9-12 noon). Mayodan United Methodist Church 501 W Main St Mayodan, NC 27027 336-548-9508 Office hours: TWT 9am to 12noon Clergy MeetingsNovember 25 at 9:30 am at Stokesburg UMC NORTHEAST DISTRICT 2009 DLC Displays 1.Golden Cross – Sudie Nelson Classes:
Speaker: David Snipes, United Methodist Foundation President 2. Small/Rural Churches (Members of churches not in the city or 100 or fewer members) 3. “Evangelism and Church Renewal” (Congregational Development persons interested in Church Growth) 4. Lay Leadership (All lay leaders and other local church leaders) 5. Trustees (Chairperson and all members of Trustees Committee) 6. Organization & Workings of the Finance Committee (Finance Committee, Treasurers) 7. Missions Outreach (Chairperson and members of Missions/Outreach Committees) 8. Pastor Parish Relations Committee (PPRC) (For all PPRC members and pastors) 9. Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations 10. Social Principles 11. United Methodist Men (History, Training, and Expectations of the organization) 12. United Methodist Women (Leadership Training & Networking for all units) 13. Today’s Youth Ministry 14. Leading Your Church to Health (Natural Church Development)
The Oberammergau Passion Play“2010 Performance” Pastors and churches from both the Western North Carolina Conference are encouraged to contact Bob Ralls for full information. Bob will be serving as coordinator for this important trip in these two districts. The recommended date for departure for persons in these and adjoining districts is Tuesday, July 13. Other dates are available for any who cannot schedule this date. EO was the largest distributor of Passion Play tickets in 1980, 1984 (special performance), 1990 and 2000. EO’s guarantee, unlike some travel companies, is that all ticket purchasers will see the entire Passion Play. Bob and Michelle are well versed in information about the Oberammergau Passion Play. They have attended the play and are planning to participate again in 2010. Again, please contact them for full information, including bro-One of the most exciting and valued pilgrimages available today is focused in a tiny Bavarian village in one of the most picturesque regions of Germany. Once every ten years the people of this small town make a centuries-old thank offering to God for what they believe to be a miraculous sparing of their village in 1633 during the time when the Black Plague was ravaging throughout Europe. Praying to God for the salvation of their town, they vowed to re-enact the passion of Christ if God would see fit to honor their prayer. The deaths stopped and, since that day, the villagers have performed the passion play once every ten years. In 1634 the first play was performed in the choir loft of the church. Due to its popularity, the play was moved to the church yard and then to a nearby field where, in 1930, the modern theater was built. Renovated several times since that date and now seating 5000 people for each performance, the theater has an open stage and a natural backdrop of blue sky and mountains. The audience sits in a covered area for protection from inclement weather. The music and costumes are magnificent, reflecting centuries-old traditions in costumes, casting and staging. Only natives or those who’ve lived in the town for 20 years are eligible for audition. To add to the play’s authenticity, no wigs or make -up are allowed. Cast members grow their hair and beards to match their Biblical roles. In 2010, our hosts for the journey of a life time will be Educational Opportunities Tours, a Christian oriented company with which many of you have traveled. We are encouraging United Methodists across the Western North Carolina nference to plan now to participate in this transformational journey. Many other sites of beauty and interest will be included. churches with registration material. The contact information is: Dr . Bob Ralls 706 Bruton Place N., Greensboro, NC 27410 E-mail: rallsba@triad.rr.com. The District coordinator is Rev. Michelle Chappell, 1520 S. Scales Street Reidsville, NC 27320 Email: fumchur@bellsouth.net. They will be glad to speak about this pilgrimage to groups in your church and to assist any of you who plan to serve as a tour host, in recruiting your own group of travelers. Call today for information and scheduling. Administrative Council approves 2009 Holiday Calendar for the Conference Center New Year’s Day Thursday, January 1, 2009 LOCAL CHURCH NEWS Local church events become a part of a church’s history as soon as they are held. One way to share them with other churches and provide a source for WNCC Archives is through the local church news section of WNCC e-NEWS. Nancy Spaine, of WNCC Archives, says it is also a great place to share things that would be of interest to the archives for preservation. Take advantage of sharing the good things happening at your church. [More <http://www.wnccumc.org/nws/localchurchnews.htm> ]
You can experience the wondrous glory of the birth of the Messiah! “Joseph of Nazareth”You are invited to attend and enjoy, as over 200 other churches have, this very special production. It is an hour-long play that tells the story about the birth of our Savior, from the first hand perspective of Joseph. Admission is free. There will be a love offering to help with production cost and Christmas Santa for our community children. Choir Robes Available Baltimore UMC has 18 cream colored choir robes and 20 burgunday choir robes that they would like to give away to any church in need. Contact Rev. Catherine K. Vlastakis at cvlastakis@gmail.com or 336-961-6055 The Western North Carolina Conference Council on Laity Seeks potential speakers for Theme: “Summoned to be a Disciple”
Send submissions to: Mitchell Matthews, Conference Director of Lay Speaking Ministries, 110 Auden Drive, Greensboro, NC 27406 by January 31, 2009. Please share with pastors, District and Local Lay Leaders, Presidents of UMW & UMM, and any others as appropriate. Lay Speaking Ministry The Northeast District is excited to announce its 2009 Lay Speaking Training Courses. 2009 Basic/Advanced Lay Speaker Training Dates: Saturdays, March 28 and April 4, 2009 Registration Form for Lay Speaker’s Training – Northeast District Make check payable to Northeast District UMC and mark for Lay Speaker Training to P.O. Box 678 Madison, NC 2705. Must be received by March 6, 2009
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