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Project Agape and Armenia: Update & Call to Prayer
The war between Armenia and Azerbaijan has come to an end. Our Armenian brothers and sisters and our partners at Project Agape still need our prayers. Bishop Leeland and the Project Agape Board give an update on the situation and call all Western North Carolina United Methodists to prayer.
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Advent Resource from the WNCC Resource Center
Zoomed out? Tired of technology? Can't stand to look at a screen for one more minute? We get it.
This Advent, go back in time and engage with ancient spiritual practices designed to help you find more hope, peace, joy and love in your life.
Adventus: Ancient Practices for an Advent at Home - the latest resource from the WNCC Resource Center - includes five lessons: one for each week of Advent plus an extra lesson for Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.
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WNCC Christmas Service
On the Sunday after Christmas, the Western NC Conference will offer a conference-wide virtual worship with a homily from the Bishop, music and liturgy from pastors and churches around our conference. Clergy and worship leaders, take a much-needed break after the Advent season and worship with friends around the conference. More information to come soon.
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Means of Grace: Meet the Howells - Incorporating Business Management into Ministry Leadership
Vincent Howell and Vince Howell are a father-son team who have co-authored the book, MBA Quick Book for Ministers. In this episode of the Means of Grace podcast, Kim Ingram and Jesse Enniss talk with the Howells about their experience writing together. Vince shares about his experience as a PK (pastor's kid) and how he incorporates his faith and his MBA into life and ministry. Vincent tells of his experiences as a church pastor and in engineering management. The leadership skills and tools for each overlap. Meet the Howells and learn how leaders can grow skills like identifying and developing lay leadership.
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2021 WNCC Martin Luther King, Jr Commemoration
The WNC Black Methodists for Church Renewal, the Justice & Reconciliation Team and the Commission for Religion and Race have set the 2021 Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemoration Service for Saturday, January 16, 2021, 10 a.m. EST. The keynote speaker will be the Rev. Dr. Joseph Daniels, the Senior Pastor of Emory Fellowship United Methodist Church, Washington DC.
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Virtual SIT Event (Staffers-in-Training)
Hinton's Virtual Staffers-in-Training event, January 15-17, is a fun, informative, leadership development event for high school juniors/seniors and college freshmen/sophomores. The event includes breakout sessions led by clergy and laity, hands-on activities, interactive worship, and more! Keynote speaker is Nora Stanger, author of Diamonds in the Dew: An Appalachian Experience. The weekend event also features Appalachian Culture Night with music by The Pressley Girls. The even is being offered at NO COST through funding from the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry Young Clergy Initiative of The United Methodist Church. Registration ends December 12, 2020.
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IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:
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Covid-19 Update for Local Churches
Bishop Leeland and Cabinet urge pastors and church leaders to use the COVID-19 Alert System to monitor their county and reconsider their decision to hold indoor worship, particularly if their county is “red." All local churches are asked to use extreme caution in response to the recent rapid spread of the virus. We thank the United Methodists across Western North Carolina for “loving their neighbor” by doing all that they can do to limit the spread of COVID-19. |
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Funds Available for Expenses Incurred During COVID-Related Food Relief Ministries
Resourceful Communities is working with Livingstone College to manage an application and selection process to reimburse community and faith partners in rural communities for expenses incurred during COVID-related food relief ministries between March 1, 2020 to November 12, 2020.
Online applications will be due Wednesday, December 2, 2020 by 11:59 p.m. |
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Means of Grace: Creating Diverse, Just and Equitable Spaces of Faith
In this episode, Dr. Otto Harris, the senior pastor of St. Mark’s United Methodist in Charlotte and the Interim Director of the Conference Comprehensive Plan of Equity, has an important conversation on diversity, inclusion and belonging with local diversity experts, Veronica Calderon, Chief Diversity, Inclusion and Equity Officer at Aldersgate Continuing Care Retirement Community and Fernando G. Little, Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer at Atrium Health. |
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UPCOMING WEBINARS & EVENTS:
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Mental Health and Care: Coping with Stress During This Season and Beyond
Upcoming webinars on December 1, 3, 8, and 10, 3 p.m. EST
This year, because of COVID-19 and the inequalities it has exacerbated, adults are reporting considerably higher mental stress. According to the CDC, “younger adults, racial/ethnic minorities, essential workers, and unpaid adult caregivers reported having experienced disproportionately worse mental health outcomes, increased substance use, and elevated suicidal ideation.” Please join our therapeutic and pastoral experts as we discuss the practical and spiritual disciplines needed for surviving this season.
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Dismantling Racism Events
Upcoming conversation December 9, 1 p.m. EST
Around the connection, United Methodists are gathering online and in-person to do the difficult work of dismantling racism. Find an event to attend or watch the video of one that has already occurred. |
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Journey Inward - The Big Silence Retreat
January 17-20, 2021
We are all on a spiritual journey in this life, but so much of our journey is spent outside of ourselves. How often do you get away from the distractions of this world to find a holy place within? When was the last time you just hung out with God with no expectations whatsoever? Maybe it’s time for you to journey inward at The Big Silence Retreat. Start the New Year with a different kind of experience.
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