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| Executing the Stations of the Cross
Recently, the men on Tennessee’s death row painted the Stations of the Cross. Christian tradition says these events happened leading up to the crucifixion of Jesus. These stations have been used for hundreds of years to contemplate the death and resurrection of Jesus. While awaiting their own execution, these men contemplated the state-sanctioned execution of Jesus.
These images have been made available free via Red Letter Christians for us to post and print, but the artists have asked that they not be sold or reproduced commercially. Use them in your Holy Week worship or to start conversations with people.
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A Conversation with Kate Bowler
Join Bishop Ken Carter for a virtual conversation with New York Times bestselling author, Duke University professor, and incurable optimist, Kate Bowler, Wednesday, April 6 at 10 a.m. |
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| FAQ: The Crisis in Ukraine
Global Ministries offers an eight-question guide to the history of Methodism in Ukraine, how UMCOR is responding, and the best ways for you to help now.
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Celebrating Women's History Month in the WNCC: Rev. Dr. Dolorus Barus Queen
Did you know Rev. Dr. Dolores Barus Queen was the first female District Superintendent in the Western NC Conference? Appointed at Annual Conference in 1990, Rev. Queen served as DS for the Salisbury District for six years. In this short bio, Jim Pyatt, Conference Archivist & Historian, tells the story of Dr. Queen, and the impact she had on the Western North Carolina Conference and greater United Methodist Church. |
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WNCC Discount on Amplify Media
It's not too late to take advantage of the conference partnership with the United Methodist Publishing House (UMPH) and get Amplify Media at a deeply discounted rate! Discount codes expire 3/31/22. Go to wnccumc.org/amplify to learn more. |
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Church Development Text In Church Matching Grant
Church Development is pleased to partner with Text In Church to offer a matching grant to offset the cost of a yearly subscription for Text In Church. Text In Church believes it should be easy to reach more people with technology. That’s why they built an easy-to-use tool that lets you engage people in a way that’s familiar to them. Learn more and apply for the matching grant today!
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Harry Denman Evangelism Award
The Harry Denman Evangelism Award program honors United Methodists in each annual conference whose exceptional ministry of evangelism – expressed in Word (what), Sign (why), and Deed (how) – brings people into a life-transforming relationship with Jesus Christ. |
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Annual Conference Updates
Petitions for consideration by the 2022 Western North Carolina Annual Conference should be submitted by April 1, 2022 to Rev. Kim Ingram, Conference Secretary, at kingram@wnccumc.org. Petitions should be formatted similar to petitions found here: 2019journal.vol1.ix.pdf (wnccumc.org).
If your congregation is celebrating its 100th, 150th, or 200th anniversary this year, please contact Jim Pyatt, Archivist, at jpyatt@wnccumc.org by April 1, so that your church will be included in this year’s recognition.
This year, special events being held at the WNC Annual Conference must be submitted for review online. To request that your event be included in the official special events calendar for Annual Conference follow this two-step process.
Registration for displays at Annual Conference is also now open. The deadline to register is Friday, April 15.
Please remember, WNC clergy who are in full connection, provisional members, associate members, and local pastors are required to attend the Western North Carolina Annual Conference meeting, June 16-19, 2022. If you are not able to attend in person, please request an excused absence. You can make that request at this link. Clergy who are retired or are on leave of absence are automatically excused if they are not able to attend. Thank you for your faithful ministry and leadership in the conference and the kingdom.
Keep up with the latest news and resources for Annual Conference 2022 at https://www.wnccumc.org/ac2022.
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OTHER NEWS
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"The United Methodist Church is in an extended season of waiting, a season brought about by a global pandemic that we did not anticipate, and extended by variant after variant...The delay is wearing upon us, and I want to speak into the present moment." Read this timely, pastoral statement from Bishop Carter.
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Bishop Ken Carter and Assistant to the Bishop Amy Coles answer a few frequently asked questions regarding the postponement of General Conference until 2024. The answers provided here are based upon the information we know as of March 8, 2022.
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In the latest episode of the Means of Grace podcast, a few members of our hosting panel share how the United Methodist Church has shaped their faith and their calling as well as their hopes for its future. As part of United Methodist Communications #BeUMC initiative, we also invite you to join the conversation and share your own stories of what being United Methodist means to you, using the hashtags #BeUMC and #WNCCUMC. Learn more about the #BeUMC initiative here.
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Checkpoint Church, a fully-online church in the Western NC Conference, recently unveiled their new policy for providing safety for all individuals within their digital faith community. Built upon traditional Safe Sanctuaries policies, which seek to ensure safety of children, youth, and vulnerable adults in a physical church environment, Safepoint takes these foundational principals and applies them to the unique context of digital ministry. Checkpoint is offering this novel policy as a resource for other churches as they begin to have conversations around safety measures within their own context and online ministries.
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UPCOMING WEBINARS & EVENTS:
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Keeping Vigil - Holy Saturday
Saturday, April 16, 10 a.m.
As a part of your Holy Week observance, plan now to join us as we keep vigil with Christ on Holy Saturday, April 16, from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. on the sacred grounds of Starrette Farm Retreat, Statesville, NC. |
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Registration now open for Lake Junaluska Friends of the Lake 5K
Saturday, April 16
The Friends of the Lake 5K Road Race and Walk will take place at Lake Junaluska on Saturday, April 16, and those who register by Thursday, March 31, enjoy discounted registration and are guaranteed to receive a “Love the Lake” T-shirt.
Now in its 15th year, the event supports the Lake Junaluska Walking Trail, one of the most popular privately-owned recreation areas in Western North Carolina. All profits from the 5K go toward improvements and annual maintenance of the trail and other recreation areas around the lake, which cost over $250,000 annually. |
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| Marriage Enrichment Retreats at Lake Junaluska
Wednesday-Friday, May 4-6
Registration is now open for Lake Junaluska’s two-night Marriage Enrichment Retreats in 2022, with Ned Martin, a licensed clinical mental health counselor who also holds a Master of Divinity degree.
"Lake Junaluska is ideal for this sort of retreat," said Martin. "Lake Junaluska provides a beautiful setting to come and be apart from the daily stresses, to be in an environment that encourages people to get out, to take a walk, to sit in a quiet place and have one of those deeper conversations."
Couples who simply wish to grow closer or are experiencing marital stress can benefit, and pastoral participants can earn 1.5 continuing-education units for participation in the program.
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