eVoice 10.19.2011
| October 19, 2011 |
News
Small church issues challenge for school kits
Holland's Chapel UMC in Scottsboro is a very small church with an average attendance of 24. As North Alabama Annual Conference 2011 was planned, our church was invited to send hand towels for health kits. We did this, remembering that in the past our UMW had assembled health kits. But we never really understood the meaning of the project. Our conference delegate returned home and shared with us the need for mission work at a warehouse in Decatur and the term UMCOR came up. We made a road... MORE > >
Forest Lake UMC to premiere anthem inspired by April 27 tornado
Six months before the April 27 tornado, composer K. Lee Scott was commissioned to write an anthem for Forest Lake United Methodist Church. However, his inspiration failed to ignite the right composition until the April storms wreaked havoc on the community surrounding the church. Almost immediately, Scott began penning “God Is Our Refuge and Strength,” a piece based on Psalm 46. Forest Lake UMC will premiere the commissioned piece to commemorate the six-month anniversary... MORE > >
Local girl raises money for UMCOR
Last April, as devastating tornadoes ripped through Alabama with heartbreaking loss of lives and property, many were left agonizing over what we could do to help our neighbors. Among that number was 10-year-old Anna Kate Simmons of Helena. While many were still wondering, however, Anna Kate was busy doing. "She kept saying, 'How can I help, how can I help those people who lost so much?' On her own, she came up with the idea to hold a bake sale," according to her... MORE > >
Significant UMCOR grant will help North Alabama Disaster Recovery make a difference in many lives
Immediately following the work of early response teams, the North Alabama Conference of the United Methodist Church installed a Disaster Recovery Team to enable families with financial difficulties to rebuild their homes to a safe and secure status from the disaster of the April 27 tornadoes. In order to assist the work already in motion, the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) Board of Directors approved a two-year $1 million recovery grant for the Conference’s efforts. The $1... MORE > >
UMCOR gives $1 million for Alabama tornadoes
At the end of April, Alabama residents were stunned by a record 62 tornadoes that killed 250 people and left homes, businesses and municipalities in tatters. All but two of those tornados touched down somewhere in the United Methodist North Alabama Annual (regional) Conference. This week, directors of the United Methodist Committee on Relief approved a $1 million grant to that conference to assist in the state’s recovery.funds had been low earlier in the year, particularly for U.S.... MORE > >
Headlines from United Methodist News Service
- Church attacks malaria on several fronts
- Exhibit explores Christianity in China
- MLK dedication is a multifaith celebration
- United Methodist initiatives find homes
- Grief centers help children cope with loss
- ‘Extreme Makeover’ aids United Methodist
- Looking ahead to future mission trends
Read more at UMC.org
Resources
Lay Ministry Team Blog
Are you reading the Laity Blog each month? Click here to read October's message from Conference Lay Leader Steve Lyles.
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Events
Conference Calendarsee more details about each of the events listed below on the online Conference calendar Children's ConneXion Meeting Lay Speaker Training - Southwest District Safe Sanctuary Training Northwest District Mountain Lakes Charge Conference Roanoke Circuit Charge Conference Candler - McDonald Lectures: Jesus Against Himself Advent to Epiphany - Year B (Preaching workshop/retreat) Superannuate Homes Board Meeting Reformation Day - Luther and the Translation of the Bible Captured by a Compelling Narrative: A Christian Story for a New Generation Conference United Methodist Children's Home White Christmas Event Christian Educators' Fellowship Regional Conference Discernment Event for Deaconesses and Home Missioners Working & Worshiping Together: Ministry with the Poor The Academy for Ministries with Children Wedowee Circuit Charge Conference Safe Sanctuary Training Cheaha District Cheaha District Charge Conference & Leadership Training Woodlawn UMC Sanctuary Dedication South Central District - dCOM Interviews Growing Healthy Churches Church Planting Discovery Center Laity Board Meeting Relational Mentor Training Exploration 2011 Sylacauga Circuit Charge Conference Safe Sanctuary Training Northwest District Candler - McDonald Lectures: Jesus Against Himself Northeast District Preacher's Meeting Assignments due for Associate, Provisional and Full Connection Membership SE Dist. Prog. & Planning Mtg. Cabinet Meeting National Youth Workers Convention 2011 Central & South Central Districts - Charge Conference & Leadership Training Alexander City Circuit Charge Conference United Methodist Center Closed see more details about each of the events |
Featured EventsLay Speaker Training - Southwest DistrictOctober 22, 2011 Registration 8:00 - 8:30 a.m. (Coffee and doughnuts will be served) Classes 8:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Cost $30.00 (includes lunch and materials) Classes offered:
ERT Training ClassNovember 5, 2011
Start Time 9:00 am
End Time 5:00 pm
United Methodist Center
898 Arkadelphia Rd
Birmingham,AL 35204
Coordinator: Matt Lacey
Coordinator Email: mlacey@northalabamaumc.org
(205) 226-7962
Early Response Team Training Class - November 5, 2011. Class is free, includes lunch, manual, badge and shirt, plus $12 for background check if not on file. Registration is limited to 30 participants. Register online.
Growing Healthy Churches Church Planting Discovery CenterNovember 8-11, 2011 Attending a Growing Healthy Churches Discovery Center is the first step Congregational Development takes in the process of considering a pastor to be a candidate for planting a church. Primarily, Discovery Centers strive to help leaders discover if the lead position in a church plant is a good fit for their next step of ministry. While some training is included, it is not a conference or seminar. The Discovery Center is designed to help leaders discern the best fit for their next step in ministry. Wade Langer, Tuscaloosa church planter and recent attendee of the Discovery Center said, "Aside from initially hearing God's call, there has been no greater process for discerning God's plan in my life than the Discovery Center. Uniquely blending an assessment of my personality with a testing of my abilities in real-world scenarios allowed me to realize who God had always known me to be. This one week at the Discovery Center changed the entire course of my ministry. As a result, I couldn't be more confident that God truly has called me to plant a new congregation." Discovery Centers are also designed for the campus pastor. "The Discovery Center helped me and my wife discern my calling as a campus pastor. It was challenging, refreshing and very affirming. I would highly recommend the Discovery Center to anybody who is considering planting a church or serving as a campus pastor of a new satellite campus." Stephen Hampton, Campus Pastor of Cove Church at Chase. If you have ever felt the call to plant a church, please consider attending this center. Please contact Lynne Paden, lpaden@northalabamaumc.org, for more information.
Exploration 2011Nov. 11-13, 2011
National Youth Workers Convention 2011Nov. 18-20, 2011 For nearly 40 years Youth Specialties has worked alongside Christian youth workers from just about every denomination and youth-serving organization around the world. Each year we serve more than 100,000 youth workers worldwide through our training seminars and conventions, resources and curriculum, and online content. The scope of the ministry has grown to three national conventions for training youth workers, citywide discipleship events for students, and a national network of youth pastors training parents on a grassroots level.
Encounter: RESURRECTED 2012
Featured Music: On Fire More information and registration available at www.northalabamaumc.org/encounter. |
Exploration 2011, an event for young adults who feel God’s call to ordained ministry as a deacon or elder in The United Methodist Church, will take place Nov. 11-13 in St. Louis, Mo.
February 17 - 19, 2012
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.