As we continue to face the fallout from a divided national election, racial injustice and tension, concerns about the differences within our denomination, and the global pandemic, Bishop Leeland brings a message of hope, peace, and thanksgiving.
 

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.
 

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.
 

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.

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.

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.